The Professional Women’s Hockey League is headed for Las Vegas, a source briefed on the situation confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday.
The league is expected to announce Vegas as the home of the PWHL’s 10th franchise Wednesday afternoon, and an invitation was recently distributed by Foley Entertainment Group, which owns the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, touting an announcement. Vegas will be the second of what could be four expansion teams for the 2026-27 season; PWHL Detroit was announced last week.
“You’re invited to join us for a historic Las Vegas sports announcement,” the invite, which was sent to youth hockey teams in the area and obtained by The Athletic, said. “This event will bring together our sports and hockey community, recognizing our city’s passion and spirit, while celebrating the future of the sport in our city with a look ahead at what’s to come.”
While Foley Entertainment Group might be involved with the team in some capacity, the league itself operates under a single-entity ownership model. Mark Walter — the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers — and his wife, Kimbra, own the PWHL and all of its teams, a difference from other major pro sports leagues such as the NHL, NFL and MLB.
A PWHL team in Vegas would likely play at T-Mobile Arena, home of the Golden Knights, which has a capacity of 17,500 for hockey and one of the best atmospheres in the NHL. There’s also Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nev., home to the AHL Henderson Silver Knights. However, a 5,567-seat arena is likely too small for the PWHL, which averaged 9,304 fans per game during its record-breaking 2025-26 regular season.
Las Vegas has quickly become a hub for major professional sports. After the NHL’s Golden Knights — led by owner Bill Foley — broke the seal on Las Vegas as a professional sports market in 2017, other leagues quickly followed suit. The WNBA Aces relocated from San Antonio in 2018; the NFL’s Raiders moved from Oakland for the 2020 season; MLB’s Athletics, also formerly in Oakland, plan to open a ballpark in 2028; and the NBA in March approved exploration of placing an expansion team in the city for the 2028-29 season.
The Aces have become a dynasty franchise in Vegas, winning three league titles in four years. In March, the organization announced it was the first WNBA team to sell out season ticket allotments for three consecutive seasons. The Aces play at Michelob ULTRA Arena and have drawn big crowds for select games hosted at T-Mobile. In July 2024, the Aces played against Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever in front of 20,366 fans — the largest regular-season crowd at a WNBA game since 1999.
Vegas has also become a premier destination for NHL players, which was on display yet again this summer when the Golden Knights landed Mitch Marner in a sign-and-trade with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs.
“Players don’t want to leave,” Foley said in a July interview with The Athletic’s Jesse Granger. “Once they get here, and they see our facilities and where we play, and they see the way we take care of our players, scouts and coaches, and how everyone is all in, they don’t want to leave.”
PWHL Las Vegas and Detroit will join the original six markets of Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, New York and Minnesota and the league’s first expansion teams in Seattle and Vancouver.
San Jose, Calif., and Hamilton, Ont., have also emerged in recent weeks as two of the league’s other prime options to reach 12 teams for next season, according to chatter in league circles.
Teams in Las Vegas and another western market, along with another in the east, would make the league more geographically balanced, potentially placing four franchises in the West, two in the Midwest (Detroit and Minnesota) and six in the East. Having that kind of footprint might also allow the PWHL to split into two conferences and potentially four divisions; PWHL executive vice president of business operations Amy Scheer told the Associated Press the league is exploring the idea.
Selecting expansion markets has been a fluid process for league executives, who have spent months working through the available options.
“There is a line of cities eager to have us there, whether it’s for a couple Takeover Tour games or for a full-time team,” Stan Kasten, the president of the MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers and a PWHL advisory board member, said last month. “We’re going to have news about that in the next few weeks.”
Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto Sceptres, Minnesota Frost, Vancouver Goldeneyes, New York Sirens, Montreal Victoire, Ottawa Charge, Seattle Torrent, Boston Fleet, NHL, Sports Business, Women's Hockey
Despite the Los Angeles Lakers’ four-game elimination from the NBA Playoffs, LeBron James is still widely expected to return for a record 24th season.
Leading prediction platform Kalshi gave James a 23% chance of playing another professional season, regardless of team.
Key Takeaways
James said that he didn’t know if he would play again in 2026-27.
Chances of retirement have steadily declined since the turn of the year.
If James leaves the Lakers, the Cavaliers are the favorite to land him.
The Lakers were the largest underdogs of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder. That played out as it was expected to, as the defending champs swept the purple and gold out of the playoff bracket.
About an hour after the season-ending loss, James told reporters that he did not know if he would be back for another year.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me,” James said. “[I’ll] go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them, and then, when the time comes, obviously, you guys will know what I decide to do.”
Kalshi’s market peaked at a 50% chance on June 30, 2025. Its highest mid-season value was 46% on Jan. 13, from which point the expected likelihood steadily declined.
Although James turned 41 on Dec. 30, he is still a spry youth compared to Kevin Willis — the oldest player to take an NBA court in the modern era — who was 44 years and 224 days old when he played his final game in 2007. “The King” would need to play in a game four seasons down the line in 2030 to steal the record.
Where will LeBron play if he returns?
Kalshi’s prediction markets aren’t limited to whether or not James will retire. Users can also predict which team’s colors he will don next season, if he doesn’t walk away.
Staying with the Lakers or retiring is the market leader with a 49% probability, determined by real-time input from the Kalshi user base. Reuniting with the Cleveland Cavaliers for a third stint is the obvious second choice with a 33% chance.
The only other outcome with a probability greater than 10% is the Golden State Warriors, who have a 14% chance. The Warriors were reportedly interested in trading for James, who is friends with Draymond Green off the court, and won a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics with Stephen Curry as the starting point guard.
The San Antonio Spurs (6%), New York Knicks (5%), and Los Angeles Clippers (2%) are the remaining teams with an expected chance greater than 1%.
A possible retirement year with the Spurs would allow James to mentor Victor Wembanayama, although he wouldn’t team up with coach Gregg Popovich, for whom James previously said he wanted to play.
The Knicks were in the running to land LeBron ahead of “The Decision” in 2010, have made back-to-back conference finals, and are in a market capable of supporting LeBron’s superstardom.
Links to the Clippers likely stem from their coach, Tyronn Lue, who won a championship with James in Cleveland in 2016, and since James wouldn’t have to relocate.
NBA Finals picture
The upcoming NBA season is expected to begin in early October, meaning that there could be several months before James announces a decision on his future.
In the meantime, the Thunder are still dominating NBA Finals trading markets. Their 64% expected chance to win the championship is at the top of the board, followed by the Spurs (19%) and the Knicks (14%). The Detroit Pistons (4%), Cavaliers (3%), and Minnesota Timberwolves (2%) are all comfortably behind.
Florida Panthers play-by-play voice Steve Goldstein has been keeping busy.
Over the past several years, the Panthers have been a mainstay during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, keeping Goldstein occupied calling games with the team during the first round and hosting broadcasts on TV and inside Amerant Bank Arena during the Cats’ postseason runs.
This year, an injury-decimated season kept the Panthers out of the playoffs.
If you’re thinking that meant Goldstein would have a little more time off, you are sorely mistaken.
Once Florida’s season ended, Goldstein was tapped by Sports USA owner and executive producer Larry Kahn to be a voice on the network as the Stanley Cup Playoffs got started.
Kahn was clearly a fan of Goldstein’s work after previously asking Goldie to call the 2026 Winter Classic for Sports USA.
While it’s probably safe to assume that he’d rather be calling Panthers games, Goldie is also a lifelong hockey nerd who knows better than to pass up a chance at calling the best playoffs in all of sports.
“Of course, it would be awesome to still be calling Panthers games during the playoffs, but you know they’ll be back,” he said. “It’s great to have this opportunity.”
In the weeks since the postseason began, to say Goldie has been calling a lot of hockey in a bunch of different places would be an understatement. Let’s just hope he’s collecting frequent flyer miles.
So far, Goldstein has called games in Dallas, Boston, Los Angeles, Tampa, Las Vegas, Anaheim and soon, Denver, handling the majority of playoff games Sports USA has broadcast.
He’s crisscrossed the country, calling four different first-round series and so far, both of the Western Conference semifinals, while sprinkling in a stop in Boone, North Carolina for his son Kyle’s graduation From Appalachian State University.
Goldie’s postseason started in Texas, calling Game 1 between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild on Saturday, April 18. A few days later he called Game 3 between the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins in Boston, then followed that up with Game 4 of the series between the Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings in LA three nights after that.
But it wasn’t until after calling Games 5 and 7 of the series between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa that things really kicked into high gear for Goldstein.
After calling the Canadiens’ impressive Game 7 victory in Tampa on Sunday, May 3, he flew home Monday and was back on a flight out west to Las Vegas on Tuesday.
He called Game 2 between the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, May 6, and then Thursday he was heading back east to North Carolina for his son’s graduation from Appalachian State.
A late-night flight home on Friday had Goldie walking into his home around 1 a.m., just in time to re-pack and head right back to the airport for a 1 p.m. Saturday flight back across the country to Anaheim for Sunday’s Game 4 between the Ducks and Golden Knights.
The following day, which was Monday, he was on a relatively shorter flight from Anaheim to Denver, where he actually gets to chill for a couple days before calling Game 5 between the Wild and Avalanche on Wednesday.
After that, he’ll fly to Anaheim on Thursday to call Game 6 between the Ducks and Golden Knights that night, and from there it’s TBD.
It’s possible he goes to Vegas if that series goes seven games. Or if the Sabres and Canadiens series extends to a sixth game, Goldie could be heading up to the hockey mecca of Montreal for that one.
After this round is over, look for Goldie to be working one of the conference finals.
Even with all the miles and hotels, Goldstein said he’s having a blast calling playoff hockey and visiting with with all the friends he’s made along the way.
That includes former Panthers like Radko Gudas, who Goldie caught up with after a recent morning skate in Anaheim.
Gudas is a genuinely good guy who was a fan and media favorite during his time with Florida, so hearing that the two dads took some time to reminisce and chat about what their kids are up to came as no surprise.
Goldie has also been blessed with an all-star group of analysts to work alongside in the broadcast booth this postseason.
While surely nobody compares to the great Randy Moller, Goldstein has called games with Kings TV analyst Jim Fox, Bruins analyst Billy Jaffe, Utah Mammoth color man Nick Olczyk and analyst for the New York Rangers Dave Maloney.
Panthers fans can universally agree that they’ve got one of the best play-by-play voices and hockey personalities in the game.
Despite the Cats missing out on the playoffs this year, it’s nice that Florida’s official voice is still out there doing his thing.
For fans wondering how and where they can hear Goldie’s calls, Sports USA games can be found on Sirius XM and various local radio stations throughout the county, as well as online at SportsUSA.live.
The teams announced the deal on Tuesday, May 12, after the D'backs had designated Thomas for assignment during the weekend to create a roster spot for top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt.
Thomas, 26, is a skilled defensive center fielder, but he's not been very productive at the plate over his five seasons in Arizona, producing a career OPS of .634.
The Dodgers currently have Andy Pages as their everyday center fielder, though Thomas could provide additional depth and a potential platoon partner against tough right-handed pitchers.
Add another $1.45 million to the Dodgers’ payroll with the acquisition of CF Alek Thomas https://t.co/gSMoTKoZGb
The Dodgers have yet to announce an official roster move to add Thomas, who does have minor-league options remaining and could be sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin his tenure with the team.
Requena is a 17-year-old outfielder from Venezuela. He is expected to be assigned to the Diamondbacks' affiliate in the Dominican Summer League.
Bruant ortolan noyé dans de l'armagnac pour la préparation de l'ortolan à l'armagnac, dans les Landes, France. (Photo by François DUCASSE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) | Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
I was going to respond, but then I realized I could channel my inner Brennan Lee Mulligan and tie together a couple of stories I had been meaning to write about, as I stumbled upon all this information across various threads, which I now combine into a single article of moderate success.
In other words, if I had to go down a rabbit hole on a train of thought, I now share what I found with everyone.
Eric Stephen is not alone in missing physical tickets. With the rise of smartphones and the MLB Ballpark app, the march to an all-digital baseball experience seemed inevitable. Rebecca Tauber of The Athletic recently covered how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend.
Digital tickets became increasingly common in the 2010s, with the rise of smartphones. The convenience of a digital ticket was clear; no need to worry about losing a physical ticket. Security concerns persist — digital ticket theft remains a risk — but digital ticket holders typically have stronger buyer protections, especially in the resale market. If stadiums were already heading in an all-digital direction, the pandemic hastened that change. Like restaurant menus and MetroCards, the world went digital and never returned.
But the desire for paper tickets persists, and not just among fans without smartphones.
While one can use the MLB Ballpark app as a digital record of attendance and travel, there is something to be said for having a physical reminder of an outing. On a surface level, it would seem an apt analogy for MLB physical tickets and the now-extinct Dodo, but ultimately, looks can be deceiving.
Pity the Dodo
In order to understand the true comparison, we must first detour to examine the poor flightless extinct bird. The Dodo was killed off by a combination of overhunting by the Dutch in the 17th century. The Dodo did not stand much chance in hindsight, as the birds were unused to humans, and the invasive animals the Dutch brought with them, like cats and dogs, also drove the bird to extinction.
Perhaps it was this shortsighted mindset that led the Dodgers to try to deny longtime season-ticket holder Errol Segal his physical season tickets earlier this year. Why honor a relationship where there is a quick buck to be made?
Alex Rozier and Robert Westermann of KNBC Channel 4 reported on the story in early April about how the Dodgers initially refused to print Mr. Segal’s season tickets. In the initial report, Mr. Segal eventually went to the ticket office to receive four physical tickets and had previously paid a surcharge for his season tickets because he lacked both the ability and the equipment to handle purely digital tickets.
It’s not that the Dodgers couldn’t print his tickets; it’s that they wouldn’t.
The team had initially offered to buy the tickets back from him, but Segal refused….
After his story was seen by millions online, the Dodgers changed their minds.
“It makes me so happy when I hand them the ticket and the smile on their face,” Segal said. “There’s nothing like an original paper ticket.”
The faithful Dodger fan now looks forward to cheering his favorite team on in person.
What Mr. Segal failed to realize was that physical tickets are now essentially a luxury item and another source of revenue for teams. So if the Dodo is the wrong bird, and you have taken notice of the title, you might be asking yourself a very obvious question.
What is an ortolan?
An ortolan is a small, endangered European songbird that, like the dodo, eaten by man. Where one can understand that 17th-century sailors might not have been fully aware of or understand conservation efforts, modern chefs cannot claim the same excuse.
Modernly, ortolans are usually drowned in brandy, which serves as both a method of dispatch and a marinade, and is eaten whole by diners minus the beak.
It is generally illegal to eat these birds, as morally dubious chefs used to blind them, tricking them into thinking it was perpetually nighttime, allowing them to gorge themselves to double or triple in size. Traditionally, one wore a napkin over one’s face when eating ortolan to capture all the flavors and hide one’s shame from God.
These birds have been featured as a minor plot point on shows like Billions, Succession, and Hannibal. Accordingly, consumption of these birds has led to an entire mythology surrounding their consumption as a status symbol for the “morally flexible,” ultra-wealthy, which is a tautology if ever there was one.
For those straining to see the connection, paper tickets were once given freely and were not status symbols or sources of extra revenue for teams, unlike now. However, tnlike the songbird, no one will generally judge a person for obtaining a paper ticket.
There is even a boutique market for creating commemorative paper tickets. Once again, Ms. Tauber:
In the collectibles world, the market for paper tickets pales in comparison to items like sports cards or game-used equipment. Of course, pieces of history fetch a price, like a 1947 ticket stub from Jackie Robinson’s debut, which sold in 2022 for $480,000, and a 1984 ticket from Michael Jordan’s debut, which sold that same year for $468,000.
Some stadiums will still print tickets on demand; sometimes, fans can pay extra for printed tickets for special games. But many don’t print tickets purchased online for everyday games, disappointing fans who want a built-in souvenir and driving up the cost for the rare stub from a noteworthy occasion. Paper tickets from Konnor Griffin’s Pittsburgh Pirates debut on April 3 against the Baltimore Orioles (only available at the PNC Park box office for an additional fee), for example, are currently selling for hundreds of dollars in good condition.
And as interest in paper tickets has persisted — possibly more for nostalgia-fuelled souvenir collecting than actual utility — some artists and businesses are trying to fill the gap. Entire souvenir companies specialize in printing commemorative ephemera, including fake versions of paper tickets to a concert or baseball game a fan might have attended, as well as digital tickets. One website, The Creative Lane, sells custom commemorative tickets for $8.99 to $10.99.
(Emphasis added.)
I can attest to this highlighted fact in my travels. I bought commemorative tickets that either used the honor system of where I was sitting in Arizona (Walker Buehler’s near no-hitter in 2021) and San Francisco (NLDS Game 2) or insisted on accuracy by checking my MLB Ballpark app before selling me a ticket (Arlington 2025).
For Ohtani’s 50/50 game, the Marlins were just selling tickets off a reel with no rhyme or reason for seats in the upper deck, which was closed off during the game, and an area where no one sat. And yet I bought two, selling one for cost to another fan I ran into at the hotel in Miami who could not wait in the lengthy, impromptu line for a souvenir physical ticket.
While the Giants sold an official commemorative ticket, I had to get creative for Game 7’s ticket, using an eBay vendor to source a facsimile.
Considering how hard the Blue Jays have been leaning into “AL Pennant” winning promotions, one would imagine that had Game 7 gone the other way, the amount of merchandise would be enough to float the finances of the province of Ontario.
At the end of the day, one should not have to go through as many hoops to eat an endangered songbird to get a paper ticket, as one act is decadent and monstrous, and the other is the collection of a bygone memento to indicate how one enjoys their fandom.
I will leave it to you, dear reader, to identify which topic is which.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 9: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals hits a two-run single against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot park on May 9, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Sam Navarro/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After taking game one of the weekend series in Miami and getting back to within 1 game of .500, the Nationals dropped the final two games to lose the series to the Marlins, who stormed ahead in the 8th inning of both Saturday and Sunday’s games. They didn’t play badly in either of the losses, but didn’t do enough to secure the series win, and now they will head to Cincinnati to take on the 22-19 Reds.
While the Reds are 3 games above .500, they are also tied for last place in the NL Central, which is looking extremely competitive in 2026. Offensively, the Reds are receiving big years from their star shortstop Elly De La Cruz and rookie first baseman Sal Stewart, but outside of those two, it has been a struggle, as their team’s wRC+ of 90 is 4th worst in MLB. One player you may not know is a Red and who the Nats will face off with this week is Nathaniel Lowe, who is one of the only other productive bats in the Reds lineup with a 139 wRC+ in 29 games.
On the pitching side, the Reds have a rotation filled with great young talent, such as Hunter Greene (who is currently on the IL), Chase Burns, and Rhett Lowder, but they rank 25th in baseball in starting pitching ERA regardless, with regression from starters Brady Singer and Andrew Abbott hitting them hard. The bullpen has not been much better either, ranking 22nd in bullpen ERA. Despite being 3 games over .500, the numbers show the Reds are a flawed team currently, and one the Nats could surprise in this three-game set.
Game One – Tuesday 6:40 PM EST
WSH: RHP Miles Mikolas (1-3, 7.44 ERA)
CIN: Brady Singer (2-2, 5.63 ERA)
Mikolas hasn’t quite eaten innings at the rate he was expected to this season, going at least 5 innings only twice, but the results have been much improved since his disaster start in the home opener against the Dodgers, having not allowed more than 3 runs in a start since. He’ll now face a struggling Reds lineup located in a dangerous hitters’ park.
Singer has played the innings-eater role in the Reds’ rotation, but has struggled to limit damage at the same time, giving up 4 runs in his last two starts against the Pirates and Cubs. The home run ball has plagued him in 2026, and the Nats will look to hit a few of their own off him tonight.
Game Two – Wednesday 6:40 PM EST
WSH: RHP Jake Irvin (1-4, 5.22 ERA)
CIN: LHP Nick Lodolo (0-1, 6.75 ERA)
Irvin logged yet another start where he went at least 5 innings last time out against the Twins, but did get tagged for 4 runs in the process. If Irvin can keep the ball on the ground and limit walks, he should have success against the struggling Reds’ lineup.
Lodolo made his return to the Reds rotation from injury last time out against the Astros and looked fine, going 5 1/3 innings but allowing 4 runs. Lodolo had a breakout 2025 campaign, with a 3.33 ERA in 29 starts, and will look to get back to that level here in 2026.
Game Three – Thursday 12:40 PM EST
WSH: LHP Foster Griffin (4-1, 2.12 ERA)
CIN: RHP Chase Burns (4-1, 2.11 ERA)
Foster Griffin continued his run of excellence with 7 innings of 1 run ball against the Marlins in their game one win Friday night, striking out 9 hitters in the process. He’s now down to a 2.12 ERA on the year, and has gone 20 innings of 1 run ball in his last 3 starts.
The 2nd overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Burns has electric stuff and has looked very sharp to begin 2026, throwing 6 innings of 1 run ball in his last start against the Astros. He has allowed 2 or fewer runs in all but one start this season, so the Nats may need to get scrappy at the plate and on the bases to manufacture some runs.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 21: JB Middleton #18 of the Colorado Rockies throws a pitch during the seventh inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 21, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Original photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images, March 21, 2026
As the Colorado Rockies embark in earnest on their rebuild, attention turns to what’s happening in their farm system, especially with the pitching staff. One of those players is RHP JB Middleton (No. 7 PuRP), currently on the Fresno Grizzlies.
Actually, I’ll turn it over to Purple Row’s prospects expert Jeff Aberle:
Middleton became the highest-ever drafted pitcher for Southern Mississippi when the Rockies took him 45th overall in the 2025 draft (Middleton was 41st in MLB Pipeline’s draft rankings), signing the now 22-year-old right-hander to a $2.072 million bonus that was $100k under slot. Middleton doesn’t possess ideal size for a modern day hurler (he’s only 6’0”), but his repertoire includes a good three pitch mix (fastball, slider, change) that he throws for strikes. He throws from a three-quarter slot with a quick arm action, a mid-90s fastball, a late-breaking slider that gets whiffs, and a good change-up to keep lefties honest.
Although he sent on the seven-day IL last week, prior to his injury in early May, Middleton had a 4.95 ERA (1.70 WHIP) over 20.0 IP. That number includes 18 strikeouts, 3 home runs, and 13 walks.
That said, he was excellent on April 11, 2025, when he strike out five and allowed only one run over five innings.
Purple Row caught up with Middleton at spring training as he recounted what he’d worked on over the offseason and what he antici`pated in 2026 as he was on the eve of making his debut as a professional baseball player.
Middleton said he had some takeaways from his final year of college baseball — that would be his 2025 with the Eagles when he tallied 105.1 IP with a 2.31 ERA that included 122 strikeouts and just 25 walks.
“Just being yourself, having confidence, learning how to pitch, and going out there and winning games for your team,” Middleton said.
His offseason focus was the natural next step: pitching development.
To be specific, according to Middleton, “just pitch shapes, trying to dial everything in and be consistent in the zone and just efficiency pitching — throwing strikes.”
The focus, too, has been on his slider, a pitch that Middleton only threw as some 10% of his pitches.
“I think we’ll probably use it a little more this year,” he said.
Tied to that has been his early work with the Rockies new pitching staff. “It’s kind of been great, everybody on the new staff,” Middleton said. “It’s amazing to think everybody’s on the same page and just go out there and fill up the zone and put guys away.”
He’s also eager to embark on his professional career.
“It’s exciting,” he said of making his debut. “You know, it’s an honor to get to be able to do this and go out there and have fun.”
And his goals for 2026?
“Just stay healthy, go out there, and try to be the best version of me I can, and just have fun.”
The Albuquerque Isotopes continue to play a solid brand of winning baseball, taking five of six against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston Astros), and maintain a two-game lead atop the Pacific Coast League standings. Albuquerque won a road series at Sugar Land for the first time, and it was also their first series win on the road against an Astros affiliate since taking three of four in Oklahoma City back in 2012. The Isotopes offense continues to produce as they launched 10 home runs in the series, their most ever in Sugar Land.
⬆️ Stock Up:Carrigg-ing On
Picking up where he left off as the reigning PCL Player of the Week, Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP), enjoyed another fantastic series in Sugar Land. Over five games, he slashed .320/.370/.600, going 8-for-25 with two home runs, a double, four RBI, and six runs scored. Additionally, he added another five stolen bases, bringing him to a season total of 24 bags. Carrigg also extended his hitting streak to 18 games, the longest active among all players in affiliated pro ball. During that stretch, he is slashing .452/.506/.685 with four doubles, two triples, three homers, 18 RBI, and 14 steals. He has also reached base in 30-straight games now.
Bullpen reinforcements are sometimes difficult to predict in Albuquerque, but Welinton Herrera (No. 17 PuRP) has continued to impress working out of the pen in his first year of Triple-A ball. The lefty made appearances in the Sugar Land series, working two innings each time. In those four innings, he allowed just one hit while striking out four against just one walk. In his 16.1 innings of work on the year, Herrera owns a 4.41 ERA, allowing runs in just four of his 12 outings while tallying 24 strikeouts against 13 walks. The Rockies need more left-handed relievers, and the prospects of the 22-year-old are getting brighter and brighter.
Upcoming:
The Isotopes are back home to host the Oklahoma City Comets (Los Angeles Dodgers). Notably, utility playerKiké Hernandez and right-handed pitcher Brusdar Graterol are beginning rehab assignments with the Comets en route to returning to the Dodgers.
A much-needed winning series against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets) helped to lift the Yard Goats up to .500 and back in the Eastern League fight. Hartford won three of their first four and then swept a Sunday double header.
⬆️ Stock Up:Roc’s Feather
Roc Riggio (no. 14 PuRP) has really hit his stride over the last few series and turned in an excellent performance against the Rumble Ponies. Riggio went 10-for-20 during the series with three doubles, three home runs, and six RBI. He had two three-hit games and had multiple hits in three of the five games he appeared in.
Right-handed pitcher Victor Juarez has quietly been one of Hartford’s best relievers. Operating mostly in late innings, Juarez has a 1.69 ERA in 12 appearances with five saves. Juarez made three relief appearances against the Rumble Ponies. In 4.1 innings he gave up just one unearned run and one hit while striking out five batters with no walks.
Upcoming:
The Yard Goats look to keep the wins coming against the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox) at home this week in a series that includes their first Chivos de Hartford night of 2026.
High-A: Spokane Indians (4-2, 13-20 Overall)
The Spokane Indians are still figuring things out. Pitching—expected to be a strength—has struggled somewhat while the offense has had difficulty finding their footing in the Pacific Northwest. However, the Indians made some great progress this week. They finally won their first six-game series of the season with four wins against the Tri-City Dust Devils (Los Angeles Angels)
⬆️ Stock Up:Cox of the Rox
Jackson Cox (no. 16 PuRP) continues to show he’s recovered from his Tommy John surgery and is able to thrive with the limiters off by showing what made him worth a second round pick back in 2022. Cox made the longest start of his professional career against Tri-City and looked good doing it. Through seven complete innings he gave up just one earned run on one hit—a solo home run—while striking out nine batters for the second time this season.
⬆️ Stock Up:Roynier. Royfar. Roywherever you are.
Second baseman Roynier Hernandez went 7-for-19 against the Dust Devils with three RBIs, two walks, and just one strikeout. His best performance came on Wednesday when he went 3-for-4 and hit a walk-off RBI single to deliver the Indians victory.
Upcoming:
The Indians are off to Oregon to face the Hillsboro Hops (Arizona Diamondbacks). The Hops currently sitting at the bottom of the Northwest League standings.
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (4-2, 19-14 Overall)
The Fresno Grizzlies continue to excel as the season rolls on with a record over .500 and a fantastic series against the reigning champion San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants). The Grizzlies took four games of the six and scored at least eight runs in each win. The pitching has been quietly solid, but it’s the offense that is surging. Many players in the Grizzlies lineup are hitting with an OPS close to or above .900 so far this season.
⬆️ Stock Up:The Return of the Roldy Brito Award for Weekly Excellence at Being Roldy Brito
The ever-exciting Roldy Brito (no. 11 PuRP) put together another strong week, going 10-for-28 with a double, a home run, four RBIs, two stolen bases, and two walks to only one strikeout. Brito kicked off the week going 4-for-5 against the Giants and had at least one hit in every other game during the series.
Wake Forest outfielder Cam Nelson was one of the more intriguing picks the Rockies made in the 2025 draft. Only a sophomore and having missed playing time due to injury, the Rockies drafted Nelson in the fifth round and paid above slot value to get him into the organization. Nelson’s bat is starting to come around, but where he has really shined is displaying an ability to get on base. With a .403 on-base percentage he has walked a whopping 26 times. He also has impressive speed with four triples and nine stolen bases.
Nelson had one of his best series of his young career against the Giants, going 9-for-26 with two doubles, a triple, a stolen base, and four RBIs.
Upcoming:
The Grizzlies head home to host the Visalia Rawhide (Arizona Diamondbacks) with hopes to continue their winning ways.
The ACL Rockies were dominant in their first full week of Complex League play, scoring at least five runs in all of their wins. The only loss they suffered is against the ACL Royals (Kansas City Royals) with whom they are tied for the best record in the Complex League.
⬆️ Stock Up:Kamuel is smokin’
18-year-old infielder Kamuel Villar is one of two members of the Rockies’ 2025 international class to make it stateside for the Arizona Complex League this season. In his last five games, playing a mix of second and third base, Villar went 6-for-12 with a double, a triple, five RBIs, five walks to two strikeouts, and two stolen bases.
⬇️ Stock Down:Penalized
20-year-old right-handed pitcher Eliezer Pena—a member of the 2023 international class—made two starts for the ACL Rockies this week. While he did strike out nine batters over 6.1 total innings, he also gave up nine runs (eight earned) on 13 hits and six walks.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Evgeni Malkin might get his wish to stay in Pittsburgh after all.
Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said Tuesday the club would “love” to have the three-time Stanley Cup-winning forward back for a 21st season next winter.
Malkin is scheduled to become a free agent for the first time in his career in July and turns 40 in August. The Russian star is coming off a solid bounce-back year, finishing with 19 goals and 42 assists in 56 games.
The future Hall of Famer said after Pittsburgh's first-round playoff loss to Philadelphia that he plans to play in the NHL next season and would prefer to do it with the only franchise he's ever known. Dubas had been vague most of the year about Malkin's future, but sounded more optimistic a couple of weeks removed from the Penguins' first-round playoff loss to Philadelphia.
“He's a special player,” Dubas said of Malkin.
Dubas pointed to Malkin's resiliency during an eventful year in which he missed 20 games because of injury and five more because of suspension as proof that Malkin remains an effective player on a team that returned to the postseason following a three-year absence.
Each time Malkin's season threatened to derail, he returned with what Dubas described as “renewed energy.”
Dubas pointed out that no player in Pittsburgh's improved prospect pool appears poised to take on Malkin's role as a top offensive option.
“I don’t think he’s blocking anybody," Dubas said. “We would love to have him back.”
Malkin and longtime running mates Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang have spent two decades playing alongside each other, the longest three teammates have played together in major North American sports history.
While Dubas knows that run will likely end during his tenure, he also allowed that what the trio has is special. Letang remains under contract for two more seasons. Crosby, the only player in NHL history to average a point a game for 21 straight years, is eligible for an extension in July.
Dubas added that while the team as a whole took a significant step forward under first-year head coach Dan Muse, there remains work to be done regardless of who is on the roster when the Penguins report for training camp in September.
“We're still well short of where we aspire to be,” Dubas said.
Dubas praised the Flyers for “getting to their game” early in the first-round series, and while the Penguins eventually found their footing, it was too late. He added that it's clear by watching some of the teams still in the playoffs that the gap between where Pittsburgh is and the top contenders is still significant.
“We have a long way to go,” he said. “I don’t kid myself with that.”
ELMONT, NEW YORK - MARCH 30: General Manager Kyle Dubas of the Pittsburgh Penguins arrive for the game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on March 30, 2026 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager/president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas met with the media on Tuesday for his end-of-season press conference, and he discussed a wide range of significant topics.
At the top of the list: Evgeni Malkin’s future with the Penguins, where the Penguins currently stand in the NHL with the progress they made this season, and what they need to do next in order to get where they want to be.
Also, speaking of Dubas, the finalists for the NHL’s general manager of the year award were announced on Tuesday and Dubas was not among the top-three vote-getters. There are a lot of people in hockey that simply do not like him. This seems to be pretty significant confirmation of that, because that result just seems weird.
But that is another discussion for another day.
Let’s get into the big topics as it relates to the Penguins.
He praised Malkin, understands his place in the history of the franchise and the league, said all of the right things about him, acknowledged that he is not blocking anybody if he returns, and flat out said “we would love to have him back.”
Also said he had a great exit interview with him and that he is still talking to Malkin’s agent to make the contract work.
My takeaway on this: He is either doing really good PR for himself in the event that Malkin leaves, or a new contract is inevitable.
I feel like the latter is probably the most likely.
But you can’t really rule out the former. Dubas isn’t dumb. He knows how to deal with the media and how to play the game publicly. By shifting the onus onto Malkin he positioned himself to say, “hey, we wanted him back, it just didn’t work.” He might still very well want to move on, but he also knows in doing so that would always be attached to his tenure here, and if it did not work out …. well … that is the kind of thing that can linger.
Now, having said that, I will repeat, Dubas isn’t dumb. He also has to know that playing that sort of PR game with a franchise icon probably won’t go over well with anybody.
So I am still leaning toward the “Malkin will be back next season” side of this.
On where the Penguins are right now
Dubas’ assessment of the 2025-26 Penguins is that they were a good team, and at times flirted with being a “very good” team. But he also acknowledged that while they did make some progress, they were not good enough, and are not anywhere close to being a contender. He even mentioned that while watching the second-round of the playoffs he has openly wondered if they would be able to compete with the top teams in the league.
Kyle Dubas summed up the state of the #LetsGoPens:
"Good team. At times, we flirted with becoming very good. Ultimately, well short of where we aspire to be, and that’s a contender."
Said that falls on him, and he has to continue steering this team towards taking more steps.
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) May 12, 2026
He has repeatedly said that his goal here is not just about making the playoffs, but building a contender-worthy team that can compete for championships.
In his view, they are clearly not at that level.
That is also not an unfair take. They were good this season. But even as they won more games and got into the playoffs everybody still knew they were at least a step below the likes of Colorado and Carolina.
Dubas specifically referenced the Hurricanes being the class of the division and said at the present time the Penguins are not even close to them.
On what they need to do to get there
Dubas seemed most bothered by how much the Penguins give up defensively, and that has to be a focus before they can get back to the level they want to play at.
That was clearly the Achilles heel of the Penguins all season.
While they finished near the top of the league in pretty much every major offensive category, from goals scored, to power play, to scoring chances to expected goals, they were significantly worse when it came to what they allowed going back the other way.
During 5-on-5 play they were 22nd in goals against, 20th in expected goals against, 23rd in scoring chances against and 22nd in high-danger scoring chances against.
Clearly that is not good enough.
Dubas talks about Penguins as “destination” team for players “with some control over their situation.”
To me, this is the most significant thing that Dubas said on Tuesday, and might indicate the type of players he is going to be looking at this offseason.
He specifically referenced “players in their mid-to-late 20s.”
It does not take a lot of imagination to try and figure out the type of players he might be referencing here when he talks about that age range, and players with “some control” over their situation.
No-trade clauses.
Restricted free agents.
Players that might want out of their current situation.
It also seems to indicate he has little interest in the unrestricted free agent market.
Dubas has been extremely aggressive in roster movement since taking over the Penguins, and it does not require much overthinking to guess that we might be in for a hectic offseason.
Apr 15, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story runs the bases on his three run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the third inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
The Phillies and Red Sox have a lot in common this season. After making the playoffs in 2025, both teams made offseason moves that weren’t embraced by many fans. And both got off to poor starts that resulted in an early season firing of the manager.
Another thing the teams have in common: They’ve gotten disappointing play from their All-Star shortstops. Trea Turner is off to a poor start this season and has been worth negative WAR (yet he’s somehow avoided receiving too much scrutiny) while his counterpart on the Red Sox isn’t faring much – if any – better.
That’s nothing new for Trevor Story since his career with the Red Sox has mostly been a disappointment.
Trevor Story through 4+ seasons as a member of the Boston Red Sox:
• Played in only 358 of a possible 688 games. (52%)
• Accumulated a combined 6.1 fWAR over his entire Red Sox career. For reference, he posted 6.0 fWAR in 2019 alone.
He was a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger winner for the Colorado Rockies, and upon hitting free agency, cashed in with a six-year/$140 million deal with the Sox. Spending big money on Rockies players has always been a “buyer beware” situation, because it’s often unclear how much their numbers have been aided by the thin air of Colorado.
Story’s numbers indeed took a significant downturn upon leaving the Rockies, but a large part of that was due to poor health. In his first three seasons in Boston, Story was limited to 163 games. In 2025, he finally managed to stay healthy for a full season, and while his offense wasn’t what it was in Colorado, he hit 25 home runs.
Apparently, there was a lack of consensus among Red Sox management whether Story’s upturn was sustainable. Manager Alex Cora believed in Story, and continued to bat him high in the lineup, while people in the front office thought the underlying metrics showed that a drop off was coming.
There are some in the organization that no longer see Trevor Story as an everyday impact player, and were not convinced his 2025 production was sustainable.
Questions were raised internally when Alex Cora hit him in the two-hole to open the season.
While that was far from the only reason Cora was fired, it certainly didn’t help his case when Story got off to a poor start to the season.
Story has been dropped from second in the lineup, and now typically finds himself batting fifth. But the change in positions hasn’t helped his offense turnaround. After a bad month of April, Story has been even worse in May, putting up a .478 OPS and he hasn’t hit a home run since April 15th.
Pennant year song battle
Nobody can stop It’s a Mistake! The Men at Work tune defeated I Get Around by 2Pac to hold the title for another week.
This week’s contender is also from 1983. With both the Phillies and Red Sox in similar situations at the moment, I figured You and I by Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gale would be appropriate:
If the song sounds familiar to younger readers, that’s because it was covered on both Glee and 30 Rock.
Vote for the winner now:
Non-Phillies thought
It is truly amazing how quickly the Sixers and Flyers squandered all the goodwill from their first-round playoff victories. You can partly excuse the Flyers who were just happy to be there and were clearly outmatched by the Carolina Hurricanes. But the Sixers get no excuses, as they’re a veteran team whose performance in game three was awful, while game four was one of the most shameful rollovers in team history.
I figured GM Daryl Morey and coach Nick Nurse were safe after beating the Celtics in round one, but seeing the Sixers get embarrassed like that might prompt changes. Then again, I don’t think anything will improve too dramatically as long as Josh Harris owns the team.
There's so much wrong with the #Sixers that the only way to correct it is by firing Nick Nurse and Daryl Morey. Then, Josh Harris has to sell the #76ers to someone who actually wants Philadelphia to win a championship. https://t.co/nYBAwnDYa9
The scheduled pitchers for Thursday’s game are Jesus Luzardo and Ranger Suarez, which should get some fans feeling a certain way. This past offseason, with Suarez a free agent, and Luzardo hitting the market the year after, it seemed unlikely that the Phillies would be able to retain both of them.
They chose Luzardo, signing him to a lucrative extension shortly after Suarez left for the Red Sox as a free agent.
The Phillies gave Luzardo the Ranger Suarez contract (5/$130) but with only $1 million more each year
The early results are not good for the Phillies. Luzardo can apparently be only very good or very bad in any given start, and he’s had more bad outings than good ones this season. Meanwhile, Ranger has a 2.77 ERA, although he’s also had his share of inconsistency. Oddly, in every one of his starts, he’s either given up zero or four runs.
It also doesn’t help that the rookie who replaced Ranger in the rotation, Andrew Painter, has also been bad lately. But if you want to avoid a team getting too old – as many fans claim they want – then at some point, you have to replace veterans with younger players, and often times, you’re going to have to deal with some growing pains.
It’s obviously too early to cast final judgement on the Phillies decision, but I do suggest Phillies fans not forget that Suarez has yet to maintain good health and effectiveness over a full season. I appreciated the guy, but I won’t miss the annual reports about his back bothering him.
Suarez is also two years older than Luzardo, and there are many who believe his stuff will not age well.
Why did the Phillies give this deal to Jesús Luzardo and not Ranger Suarez?
RICHMOND, VA - MAY 06: Ralphy Velazquez #24 of the Akron RubberDucks plays defense at first base during the game between the Akron RubberDucks and the Richmond Flying Squirrels at CarMax Park on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Matthew Mitrani/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
I’m a little late to this project, but let’s see the standout performers from the first month(plus) of Guardians’ minor league baseball action:
Triple-A Columbus – Hitters: Cooper Ingle, C – 223 wRC+, 19.5/28.6 K/BB%, .315 ISO Angel Genao, SS – 157 wRC+, 17.2/6.9%, .296 ISO Stuart Fairchild, OF – 154 wRC+, 19.4/15.8%, .202 ISO Kody Huff, C – 151 wRC+, 17.7/13.6 K/BB%, .224 ISO Maick Collado, 1B/3B – 150 wRC+, 8.1/2.7 K/BB%, .206 ISO Kahlil Watson, OF – 141 wRC+, 26.7/20.6 K/BB%, .265 ISO Juan Brito – 138 wRC+, 15.6/13.54 K/BB%, .250 ISO
Analysis: There are some pretty impressive hitters in this bunch. Primarily, I wonder how long the team will wait to get Ingle and Watson their shots at impacting the major league roster. Watson still whiffs a bit too much, but every other number looks sustainable. Genao probably doesn’t get a shot until next season, but all his numbers so far look insane – EXCEPT for that near 60% groundball rate. If he starts lifting the ball just a little more – watch out. He’s still likely the organization’s shortstop of the future… or an amazing trade chip… Collado’s numbers are not sustainable, but it is fun he has had such a great first 37 plate appearances in Columbus. Kody Huff might be the most interesting name to watch here, as he seems to have made some significant hitting adjustments, and his catching gets rave reviews. Fairchild may get a shot to replace Angel Martinez at some point if Angel doesn’t stop chasing everything out of the zone he gets thrown. Brito has yet to get any outfield reps this year, however, so he is looking like an injury-replacement only so far. He doesn’t need to see second base again, but his bat still looks like it could be an asset in the bigs if given time.
Analysis: Peterson has seen the usual walk tic-up of a pitcher going to Triple-A, but I’d expect him to lower that rate and show himself to be a competent fifth starter, with a solid groundball rate. Maltrud may become a solid long reliever, but I’m not sure that low of a K-rate is able to make him a major league option. Side note – Codi Heuer has a decent ERA that does not look at all sustainable, and should be the first roster spot to give way if the team wants to add a player at some point. Also, Daniel Espino has had a rough couple weeks, but I believe in that kid to figure it out. Still striking out 11 batters per 9.
Double-A Akron – Hitters: Ralphy Velazquez, 1B/LF – 146 wRC+, 16.9/14.1 K/BB/9, .192 ISO Jake Fox, OF – 144 wRC+, 18.5/22.2 K/BB/9, .067 ISO
Analysis: Velazquez has yet to consistently tap into his power. When that happens, he will quickly make his way to Columbus. Fox’s wRC+ is mostly a mirage, but he has fringe major league hitter potential, still.
Analysis: Cheating a little by putting Campbell here, who has had just one start at Akron, but he is the most exciting arm of this bunch. I don’t know what his innings limits look like, but he could force the issue for a promotion sooner rather than later if he keeps this up. Rustad and Jasiak look like usable relievers who deserve a Columbus promotion at some point. Favors and Stephen have both struggled with walks. I would guess Stephen gets the walks under control in the month to come and makes his way to Triple-A, but things are much less sure for Favors.
High-A Lake County – Hitters: Bennett Thompson, C – 182 wRC+, 21.9/30.2 K/BB%, .231 ISO Aaron Walton, OF – 147 wRC+, 25/9 K/BB%, .245 ISO Dean Curley, SS – 140 wRC+, 26.8/27.6 K/BB%, .153 ISO Jaison Chourio, OF – 139 wRC+, 17.6/17.6 K/BB%, .159 ISO Ryan Cesarini, OF – 123 wRC+, 21.6/7.2, .267 ISO
Analysis: A team lacking power but with lots of contact and plate discipline. I am not sure how Thompson’s defense at catcher will hold up as he advances, but he can hit. Walton’s early returns have been great; just a question if he can keep the whiff low enough and the power high enough to maintain his value as a hitter. Chourio’s injury is unfortunate, but he was displaying the “average ML hitter” potential folks saw for him. Curley’s numbers will be determined on if he can reduce his K-rate and impact the ball at a high enough rate to help when his walk rate declines. Cesarini might be a fourth outfielder someday.
Analysis: Gomez and Doughty are very exciting starting pitching prospects. I’d like to see both brought up to Akron in June or July, at the latest, and I think BOTH have strong front of the rotation potential. Schuelke could be a fringe major league reliever with his unusual delivery, and Martinez should get a shot as a major league lefty out of the pen at some point.
Low-A Hill City – Hitters: Anthony Martinez, 1B – 165 wRC+, 16.5/19.6 K/BB%, .250 ISO Robert Arias, OF – 148 wRC+, 15.7/18.1 K/BB%, .155 ISO Jose Pirela, OF – 148 wRC+, 26.7/11.5 K/BB%, .205 ISO Luis De La Cruz, 1B/3B – 135 wRC+, 28.6/14.3 K/BB%, .083 ISO Juneiker Caceres, OF – 121 wRC+, 10.7/14.3 K/BB%, .140 ISO
Analysis: Martinez and Arias are such exciting hitters, folks. Wow. Pay attention for their progress this season. Pirela and De La Cruz have some reasons to doubt their output so far, but, hey, better to hit than not to hit. Caceres is dealing with an injury, but I expect big things from him and from Dauri Fernandez in the months ahead.
Analysis: Some strong pitching in Hill City. Bodendorg, Keljo and Major are the starters in this group, and Bodendorf will be especially knocking on the door for Lake County soon. Bodendorf is 6’5 and Keljo is 6’4, so that’s some exciting physical talent to dream on. Fernandez’s numbers seem somewhat unsustainable, but Alfaro is gonna head to Lake County sooner rather than later.
Overall, it’s been an encouraging beginning for the Guardians’ farm system. Let’s hope this solid development work continues and even improves in the months ahead. Let us know which prospect you’re most excited about from the list above in the comments below.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 10: Elly De La Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds hits a single in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Great American Ball Park on May 10, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds have a leadoff problem, and they’re well aware of it.
As TJ Friedl struggled through one of the worst stretches of his (or anyone’s) career, we watched as manager Terry Francona lightly shuffled his lineup over the weekend as the Reds eschewed their recent 8-game losing streak and managed to win the series over Houston on Sunday. Will Benson, who has been hot enough to carve out a more permanent role in the lineup against RHP, was moved to the top of the order, and Spencer Steer – himelf on a heater since a slow start – jumped up to hit 2nd.
Right now, Reds leadoff hitters own just a 65 wRC+ collectively this season. That’s the worst mark among leadoff hitters in the sport. They rank last in slugging (.272) and last in OPS (.576), too.
It’s an especially impermissable problem given that the last few weeks have seemingly unlocked several hitters who profile as guys who could actually drive some guys in, if given the chance. Steer has hit .274/.346/.504 (.850) since a brutal 5-game stretch to start the season. Nate Lowe stepped in and showed that his bat simply has to be in the lineup against RHP, and the back of his baseball card over the last 8 years show that, too. Geno Suarez was brought in for big hits in big spots, and he’ll be back within a week if all things go according to plan on his rehab stint. And, there’s Sal Stewart, who despite his recent slump remains a bat you simply dream about having up with runners on base and in position to score.
Benson may be fine as a mix and match guy up top for the time being. He’s been prone to streakiness, and when he’s hot he’s as hot as anyone, and riding that right now may not be the worst decision of all time. However, I just can’t get over the fact that the Reds, right now, have a 24 year old star with 40/80 upside, elite speed when given the chance to run, and an on-base percentage that’s above league average who they just…won’t…give the most PA possible.
When Mike Trout first cut into the big leagues, he was a leadoff hitter, once stealing 49 bags while also swatting 30 homers – he also twice got over 700+ PA in those early years. It was a similar story with Hanley Ramirez when he first broke in with the Marlins, twice swiping 50+ bags in 700+ PA seasons, with one featuring an elite 145 OPS+. As early as tomorrow, the Atlanta Braves are going to activate Ronald Acuña, Jr. off the injured list, and when they do, they’re going to the originator of the 40/70 club in his customary spot atop the order.
Elite power/speed guys simply do not show up often. We’ve seen enough of Elly through his early career to know exactly how devastating he can be when he gets on base, especially when there’s a lineup behind him capable of buying him time to get to 2B. He can score from anywhere, as the Milwaukee Brewers well know, and other teams across the baseball landscape sure seem to be emphasizing that those skills deserve as many chances as they can get each and every day. After all, the top spot in the lineup comes to the plate a good number of times more often over the course of a full season than does the #3 spot.
The Reds offense needs a spark in the worst of ways. They’ll get a little of that when Geno gets back, surely, assuming Francona doesn’t bottle it by giving too many PA to others across the infield. In Elly, they’ve got the single biggest spark in the game…if they could just figure out how best to deploy him.
Right up top, I say. Hit Elly De La Cruz in the leadoff spot.
The headlines from Game 4, where Cleveland tied its series with Detroit, were Donovan Mitchell exploding for 39 second-half points and a 22-0 run to start the second half that helped the Cavaliers pull away for the win.
To Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff, there was more to the story — Cleveland shot 34 free throws in Game 4 to 12 for Detroit. Mitchell himself had more free-throw attempts (15) than the entire Pistons team, a Detroit squad known for its physical play and for drawing fouls.
"It's unacceptable. It is," Bickerstaff said after the loss, via the Associated Press. "There is no way one guy on their team should have more free throws than our team. We're not a settling for jump shots team. We didn't do enough to help ourselves, but ever since we came to Cleveland, the whistle has changed."
Bickerstaff was going to get his money's worth with the fine that is assuredly coming, so he wasn't done, via Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com.
"We drive the ball, attack the paint. So, what was done out there tonight, it's frustrating, but we can't allow that to be the reason why, because we didn't play well enough and play to the best of our capabilities.
"But again, you look at the foul count, you look at the disparity, and that's hard to overcome, and you wonder the reason why. It's interesting since (Cavaliers coach) Kenny (Atkinson) made his comments publicly about us, the whistles changed in this series."
Atkinson complained about the balance of whistles after the first two games, when the Pistons shot a combined 55 free throws to the Cavaliers' 43.
Coaches complaining to the press about calls going against them in a playoff series is a playoff tradition that goes back further than when Phil Jackson was doing it during the Jordan era in Chicago. The hope is to plant a seed in the minds of the officials calling the next game, to get them — even subconsiously — to tweak how the game is called.
Both Bickerstaff and Pistons star Cade Cunningham said that the referees were not why they lost Game 4 — that was the inability to slow Mitchell and a poor start to the second half. Now it's all about Game 5 on Wednesday, and Bickerstaff will gladly pay the fine if it helps his team in that critical showdown at home.
A trio of Giants outfielders celebrated a big win over the Dodgers on Monday night in a very bizarre manner.
Just after San Francisco took down Los Angeles, 9-3, at Dodger Stadium, Jung Hoo Lee, Drew Gilbert and Harrison Bader all met up in centerfield and thrusted on each other.
Broadcast cameras captured the three wrapping their arms around one another and gyrating together multiple times.
Broadcast cameras captured the three Giants outfielders wrapping their arms around one another and pumping their pelvises multiple times. NBC Sports Bay Area
Bader and Gilbert really seemed to get a kick out of it, though at one point, Lee sure looked like he was ready for it to be over.
The guys then bolted into the infield without creating any further viral scenes.
The postgame party, while unique, was deserved. Not only did the scuffling Giants beat up their rival, but the evening marked Bader’s first game back since he suffered a hamstring injury in March.
Bader told reporters following the win that everything felt “good,” and he’s “excited to go out there and help this team win” moving forward.
If that all comes with further buzzworthy moments from the centerfielder and his teammates, it certainly seems social media users won’t mind it one bit.
But others online were outraged by the X-rated act.
“Now watch Little Leaguers wanna imitate that s–t,” wrote Carlos Betancourt on X. “Even if we lose, I would sit all 3 players tonight for doing that on live TV and embarrassing the franchise.”
“@NBCSGiants Come on guys you’re high paid professionals and you shouldn’t hump each other like that!” wrote another fan on the social media platform. “All games televised with young viewers and others that can be offended! I will not be surprised if MLB says something along with a fine or suspension!”
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The Los Angeles Kings have made the playoffs for 5 straight seasons, and over the last 2 years, the Kings have made major roster changes that, at the time, were made to help the team not only make the playoffs but also to help get them further both within the playoffs and in future seasons to come. But during the time those trades and signings were made, the players, fans, and Kings organization couldn't see just how impactful they were, so looking back 2 years to see the most recent acquisitions and who has changed the Kings the most.
2025-26 Season Acquisitions
During the 2025-26 season, the Kings made multiple trades, bringing in some players and sending others to other teams. The Kings' trades this season both showcased the team's future building while also providing star and depth talent for the short term.
The biggest trade the Kings made this season was for the biggest player on the trade market. The trade was the Kings trading for Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers in exchange for Liam Greentree and a conditional 2026 3rd round pick. While the Kings lost one of their top prospects, they gained a player who has been a point per game over the last 9 consecutive seasons.
Artemi Panarin, after being traded to the Kings, signed a 2-year, $11 million AAV deal with the team. Panarin, since joining the Kings, has played in 26 games, scoring 9 goals, tallying 18 assists for 27 points. In the 4 playoff games he played, he had 2 goals and 1 assist for 3 points.
During the 2026 trade deadline, the Kings traded players to different contenders around the NHL, but they also acquired 2 players. The first was signing forward Mathieu Joseph to a 1 year $900K contract. Joseph played in 12 games for the Kings and did not register any points.
The second acquisition at the deadline for the Kings was Scott Laughton, who was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a conditional 2026 3rd-round pick. Laughton with the Kings played in 21 games, scoring 5 goals and recording 3 assists for 8 points. The Kings were able to use Laughton as a depth piece and have interest in signing Laughton during the offseason.
2024-25 Players Acquired
The Kings during the 2024-25 season made a few moves, and at the trade deadline, they acquired forward Andrei Kuzmenko from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a 2027 3rd-round pick. In the 2024-25 season, Kuzmenko played in 22 games, registering 5 goals and 12 assists for 17 points, and was playing some of his best hockey.
But the 2025-26 season was a setback, as Kuzmenko played only 52 games due to injuries and scratches. In those 52 games, he registered 13 goals, 12 assists for 25 points. While Kuzmenko's points improved, he often found himself a healthy scratch and lacked a set spot in the lineup. Currently, Kuzmenko is set to become a free agent in this upcoming offseason.
The offseason after the 2024-25 season was a busy one for the Kings, as they signed 4 players when free agency opened on July 1st. Those players are Anton Forsberg, Joel Armia, Brian Dumoulin, and Cody Ceci.
Anton Forsberg signed a 2-year, $2.2 million AAV deal with the Kings and was set to be the Kings' backup goaltender. But fast-forward to the end of the 2025-26 season, and Forsberg was the Kings' starting goalie in the playoffs and has proved to be a strong option in goal heading into next season.
Joel Armia signed a 2-year, $2.5 million AAV deal, and in his first season with the Kings, he played in 67 games, registering 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points. Armia also represented Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he led the team with 8 points. While being a depth player for the Kings, Armia made a strong impact this season and looks to do the same heading into the next.
The last 2 players to sign with the Kings were Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci, who, throughout the 2025-26 season, would form the 3rd defensive pairing for the Kings. Brian Dumoulin signed a 3-year $4 million AAV deal and played in all 82 games, scoring 2 goals, tallying 15 assists for 17 points. Ceci would sign a 4-year, $4.5 million deal and also play in all 82 games, scoring 1 goal and tallying 8 assists for 9 points.
2023-24 Players Acquired
The 2023-24 season for the Kings, in terms of trades and signings, featured players who have solidified themselves as Kings starting players today. The first player the Kings acquired in the 203-24 offseason was goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who was traded to the Kings from the Washington Capitals in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois. Kuemper would have a Vezina-nominated season the following year, and while in the 2025-26 season, he would take a step back. The Kings now have him and Forsberg to be a strong tandem heading into next season.
Not long after the Kuemper trade, the Kings traded Carl Grundstrom to the San Jose Sharks for Kyle Burroughs. Burroughs would not play in the 2025-26 season, due to injuries and being the 7th defenseman on the roster. The Kings made 2 signings on July 1st, 2024, signing Jeff Malott and Joel Edmundson.
Jeff Malott signed a 2-year $775K deal with the Kings. In the 60 combined games Malott has played with the Kings over the last 2 seasons, he has scored 3 goals and has tallied 10 points. Malott is set to become a free agent during the 2026 offseason.
The last signing for the Kings was Joel Edmundson, who signed a 4-year, $3.8 million AAV deal with the Kings. In the past 2 seasons, Edmundson has proven himself a reliable defenseman for the Kings, playing in 155 games, scoring 8 goals, and recording 43 points.
Impact on the Kings
The Kings' recent acquisitions have had a significant impact on their roster. The biggest impacts for the Kings are Kuemper, Panarin, and Edmundson. Darcy Kuemper has proven himself a starter for the Kings, and with the addition of Forsberg, the Kings have a reliable tandem moving forward. The addition of Joel Edmundson to the Kings has given them a reliable defenseman who can play anywhere in the lineup.
Lastly, while Panarin joined the Kings during March of the 2025-26 season his offensive presence was impactful for the Kings to clinch a playoff birth and heading into next season Panarin will be looked upon to help the Kings offense and with the Kings possibly adding more players during the upcoming offseason the Kings could be a new team come time for the start of the 2026-27 NHL season.
