The Winnipeg Jets will have a familiar Manitoba face serving as their emergency backup goaltender for the 2026-27 season.
Altona product Cole Kehler has been selected by the Jets to serve as the team's emergency backup goaltender (EBUG) for the 2026-27 season, according to an announcement Thursday from the Altona Maroons.
The 28-year-old has most recently been involved with his hometown Maroons as the club's goaltending coach. The team says his new role will keep him busy for the next 10 months as he trains, practices and travels with the Jets.
Photo by Jonathan Kozub
“We couldn’t be happier for Cole as he takes advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” the Maroons wrote in announcing the news.
The move represents something of a homecoming for Kehler, who has already spent time within the Jets organization.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound netminder attended Jets training camp ahead of the shortened 2020-21 season before signing a one-year contract with the Manitoba Moose. He appeared in three games for the Moose that season, going 2-1-0 with a 2.52 goals against average.
Amid COVID regulations, Kehler was signed by the Jets for the remainder of the 2020-21 season, providing the organization with additional goaltending depth. He did not appear in an NHL game.
Born and raised in Altona, Kehler played his junior hockey with the Kamloops Blazers and Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League before signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings as an undrafted free agent in December 2017.
His professional career included stops with the Manchester Monarchs, Fort Wayne Komets, Rapid City Rush, Cincinnati Cyclones and Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL, along with AHL appearances for the Ontario Reign and Moose.
Kehler eventually returned home to Altona, where he played for the Maroons before moving behind the bench as the team's goaltending coach.
His new position means the Maroons will need to find a replacement goaltending coach for the 2026-27 season, but the club says Kehler intends to return once his time with Winnipeg is complete.
“Cole has committed to returning to the Maroons when his time with the Jets organization is finished,” the team wrote, adding that he will return with additional “knowledge and experience gained from his time working alongside an NHL organization.”
As Winnipeg's EBUG, Kehler will be available in the event that circumstances leave the Jets or their opponent without two healthy goaltenders during a home game. And should that unlikely call ever come, the former Moose netminder would suddenly find himself one step away from making his NHL debut - in his home province.
Rules surrounding EBUGs pertain to jersey numbers (No. 00 strictly) and cannot have suited up in any NHL games while maintaining fewer than 80 professional games under their belts.
When the Dolphins released All-Pro WR Tyreek Hill this past February following a catastrophic knee injury, the NFL world assumed a long, quiet rehabilitation.
Instead, Hill has turned his free agency into a public spectacle. From cryptic social media posts at Hard Rock Stadium to highly publicized meet-and-greets in Missouri, the rumors are flying.
“Tyreek Hill's Next Team” prediction markets are reacting to every single hint, creating a wildly volatile trading environment.
This market isn’t simply pricing in medical clearance; it’s pricing in narrative momentum, quarterback fits, and active player recruitment.
Right now, traders at Kalshi are trying to separate legitimate front-office smoke from pure online hype.
Key Takeaways
The Favorite: Retirement/stays with Miami was the favorite at 30 cents two weeks ago, but it has since dipped. to 26 cents. Hill back to the Chiefs is again the favorite.
The Momentum: Hill back to the Chiefs surged from 10 cents to 35 cents over the past two weeks, likely because of encouraging workout videos that Hill posted on social media.
Retirement A Growing Option: 'Staying with Miami or retiring' is a serious option as Hill said in July that he has "no power" in his injured left leg.
Tyreek Hill Next Team Odds: Where The Smart Money Is Moving
Prediction markets aren’t just about picking the eventual winner. The sharpest traders find value where the public has overreacted or underpriced a highly probable outcome.
Kansas City | “Yes” 35¢ | 29% Chance
Value is about catching the pendulum when it swings too far.
The public saw Hill in Missouri and aggressively bought KC up to near 50%. Patrick Mahomes needs a proven deep threat, and Hill clearly wants a reunion.
This was bad value at 43 cents but has since reset down to 35¢: this is a market to watch very closely and consider trading into.
Stays with Miami or Retires | “Yes” 26¢ | 26% Chance
"Stays with Miami or retires" is priced at 26% for 'Yes' right now, but this may grow and grow over time with unfortunate news shared by Adam Schefter on Hill's progress in his return from injury:
Free-agent WR Tyreek Hill said he still has “no power” in the left leg he injured in week 4 last season against the New York Jets.https://t.co/HpHqc56lsP
One thing to bear in mind with this market is the closing date: if Hill doesn't have full mobility yet and must complete his rehab before returning to the field...could he miss the closing date for this market of December 31, 2026?
It's looking more and more unlikely we'll see the Cheetah on the field in 2026.
BUY: Baltimore | “Yes” 2¢ | 1% Chance
If you want a logical scheme-fit sleeper, Baltimore at 1% is a prime value play.
The Ravens are consistently discussed as the perfect spot for a speed-dependent receiver alongside Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers.
Buying in at 2¢ gives you leverage if real contract talks leak.
Tyreek Hill Next Team Odds: What’s Driving the Volatility?
The Kalshi board for Tyreek Hill's next team is a masterclass in narrative whiplash.
In June: “Stays with Miami or Retires,” was sitting at 29%. While the Dolphins return chatter was basically nonexistent, the retirement angle is starting to gather pace with reports coming out about his rehab from serious injury proving much slower than expected.
Vegas' Rise and Fall
The most compelling story is Las Vegas. The Raiders exploded from the basement to a 25% implied probability in June, jumping 23¢ almost overnight.
What changed?
Defensive superstar Maxx Crosby. He has used his platform to pitch Vegas as a premier landing spot, and prediction markets always respect a star-driven recruitment drive.
It was a fleeting moment on the Kalshi board, though, as all has been quiet on the Vegas front. Vegas is now at just 6 cents.
Expert Context: Why the Markets are Shifting
The defining gravitational force is medical clearance. Tyreek Hill suffered a devastating dislocated knee with torn ligaments, including the ACL, last season. This isn’t a standard free-agency negotiation; it’s a tense waiting game.
General managers are holding out for medical green lights, which creates a vacuum of hard news. In prediction markets, when there’s no hard news, social media fills the void.
That’s why a Snapchat post can spike the Miami price, or why Maxx Crosby’s online commentary can launch the Raiders up 23¢.
Right now, traders are betting on where Hill wants to go, not necessarily where the medicals and contracts align.
Eventually, an aging speedster coming off a catastrophic injury signs where guaranteed money and contender status meet—often leaving fan-driven rumors behind.
Strategic Considerations for Traders
Watch the medical cycle: This market stays speculative until Hill passes a physical. Track concrete rehab timeline reports before taking heavy positions.
The flip strategy: You don’t have to hold until Hill signs. If you buy the Chiefs at 16¢ and a rumor spikes them to 40¢, you can sell “Yes” shares for a quick profit.
Fade PR stunts: Hill is an elite showman who understands leverage. Don’t overreact to every video. Use hype spikes to buy “No” shares on temporarily overvalued teams.
How to Trade Tyreek Hill on Kalshi
Trading NFL futures on prediction markets like Kalshi is a different analytical experience than traditional sportsbooks.
Account setup: Fund your Kalshi account via bank transfer or wire so you have capital ready for breaking news.
Navigate: Go to Sports → Pro Football and locate the “Tyreek Hill's Next Team” market.
Execute: Buy “Yes” shares on a team or buy “No” shares to fade the public narrative.
Monitor: Markets are fluid. You can sell your position at any time before Hill signs.
American musician Dolly Parton peforms on the Oprah Winfrey television show, Chicago, Illinois, February 11, 1992. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
DIAMONDBACKS
GIANTS
Lars Nootbaar – DH
Drew Gilbert – RF
Corbin Carroll – RF
Rafael Devers – 1B
Gabriel Moreno – C
Bryce Eldridge – DH
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Jonah Cox – CF
Max Kepler – LF
Turner Hill – LF
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Shay Whitcomb – 3B
Tim Tawa – 1B
Drew Cavanaugh – C
Ildemaro Vargas – 2B
Christian Koss – SS
Ryan Waldschmidt – CF
Nate Furman – 2B
Jose Cabrera – RHP
Landen Roupp – RHP
Roster moves
The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 39.
Recalled from Triple-A Reno: RHP José Cabrera
Optioned to Triple-A Reno following yesterday’s game: RHP Drey Jameson
The first of an expected flurry of moves for this series, what with the sudden double-header on Saturday, and the need for further starting pitchers. First up is Cabrera, who made four starts for Arizona leading up to the All-Star break. They were… just about okay, I suppose. A 5.60 ERA, but that was suppressed by throwing five shutout innings in his major-league debut. Once word got around, the three which followed were considerably less effective, allowing 11 ER over 12.2 innings. A big factor was a K:BB there of just 9:7, as major-league hitters simply laid off his pitches. Doing a better job there will be key tonight in San Francisco.
The series with the Cubs is in the books, and it went well for the D-backs in their wild-card race, combined with results elsewhere. Both the Phillies and Padres lost their series to teams below them in the standings, while Arizona beat a team above them. That closed the gaps to three and one games respectively, and also put a significant dent in the strength of schedule remaining. Now, the Phillies have far and away the toughest stretch run: ranked #3 with a .525 average opponent’s record. The Padres are about even, #16 at .499. But with the Cubs now crossed off, the D-backs have dropped to 24th, at just .485.
Of Arizona’s 28 remaining games, only 9 are against teams above them in the standings (series against the Yankees, Phillies and Padres). They also face the Marlins, who are above .500, at 68-66. But the remaining sixteen games are against sides with losing records. Those start with the four-game series here against San Francisco, while they won’t get to start Eduardo Rodriguez, I’d love for Arizona to take three of the four contests. Meanwhile, the Phillies have today off, before starting a series on the road against the Angeles tomorrow. And the Padres are similarly traveling, but face a tough set against the AL best Rays in Tampa. It’s a good chance for the D-backs to close ground there.
[Dollywood Day #3, for as long as the D-backs keep winning. Dolly Parton peforms on the Oprah Winfrey television show, Chicago, Illinois, February 11, 1992.]
Mar 14, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; The ACC championship game logo is seen on a basketball prior to the men's ACC Conference Tournament Championship between the Virginia Cavaliers and the Duke Blue Devils at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
After the Big Ten, the SEC, and the Big 12 acted earlier this week, the ACC has joined the movement to ban pro athletes from returning to college.
In the ACC’s case, this applies to the NFL, the NBA, and the WNBA. The Big Ten applied its rule strictly to the NFL, while the SEC moved to ban people from the NBA, WNBA, and NFL, and the Big 12 just banned it all. You professional rowers who thought you were coming back to Oklahoma State? You can suck it!
It would probably be good if the Power 4 coordinated and got the same rule across the board, but at least everyone is mostly on the same page: there is a difference between professional and collegiate athletics.
Here’s what Duke football coach Manny Diaz had to say about Thursday’s move by the ACC:
“I don’t blame the players. I don’t blame the individual schools because no one’s breaking a rule. But if something doesn’t pass the smell test, then why don’t the grown-ups in the room be the grown-ups in the room and let’s just say that’s not something that we stand for.
“They’re kicking somebody off who has gone through summer conditioning and an offseason program, and I think there’s morale issues. There’s real-life consequence. This is not pro sports where we check the waiver wire and we just cut a dude and bring a dude in. I’d be curious to see what’s actually happening at all these schools. Not just the NFL guys, all the other eligibility cases. Did that take somebody’s spot or not?”
Well put. Now we sit back and await the next wave of lawsuits.
Update – the Big East will monitor the situation, but has not followed the Power Four and moved against pro athletes returning to college competition.
And with their payroll $8.1 million from the NBA’s $209 million first-apron threshold, they’re hard-capped for the 2026-27 season. With their roster already having 16 players signed to guaranteed contracts, the Lakers’ options for other roster additions are limited.
But they still have clear needs with a month before training camp kicks off.
With Jonathan Kuminga going to the Timberwolves, the Lakers will have to pivot to other options. Getty Images
The Lakers’ tradable draft picks are limited: They own their own 2033 second-round draft pick; they possess a pair of second-round picks from the Wizards in 2031 and 2032 after swapping Deandre Ayton for Jaden Hardy; and the lone first-round pick they’re able to outright swap in a trade is in 2032.
Outside of that, their other trade assets are mostly players who could be on expiring contracts if their team options for 2027-28 are declined (such as Hardy and Dalton Knecht).
These limitations, in addition to a big man market that has a high demand but low supply of quality options, are why the Lakers don’t have many trade options for big man depth.
But if they decided to go that route, two potential targets would be Bucks center Jericho Sims and Bulls big man Jalen Smith.
Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims’ skill set around the rim is intriguing. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The 6-foot-10, 250-pound Sims fits the athletic, rim-running big man that’s an ideal fit next to superstar guard Luka Doncic. He’s a strong finisher and rebounder, especially on the offensive glass.
And with Sims, 27, slated to be the third big man behind Myles Turner and Kel’el Ware in Milwaukee, the Bucks may be willing to trade Sims and his expiring $2.8 million salary to another team.
The 6-8 Smith, who’s coming off a career year in Chicago (10.2 points, 6.7 rebounds) would provide the outside shooting Sims lacks. And despite being undersized for a traditional center, he’s capable of playing at the 4 and 5, which would open up versatile offensive lineups for the Lakers.
Jalen Smith (25) of the Chicago Bulls would provide frontcourt versatility if the Lakers traded for him. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Big man free-agent targets
After the Heat picked up Nick Richards on a veteran’s minimum contract on Thursday, the list of free- agent big men became even shorter and more bleak.
The most significant option for the Lakers could be Dwight Powell, the 6-10, 35-year-old big man who was teammates with Doncic for 6 ½ seasons in Dallas.
Notably, Powell has played the most games as a teammate alongside Doncic (389) among the 98 players Doncic has played alongside in his eight-year NBA career.
Besides Powell, the other realistic options are veteran journeymen Drew Eubanks, Bismack Biyombo and Mason Plumlee — demonstrating the lack of quality big man free-agent targets.
Former Mavericks center Dwight Powell has played the most NBA games as a teammate of Luka Doncic’s than anyone else in Doncic’s eight-year career. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Wing trade targets
Trade options for a wing/forward who can step in as a reliable rotation player — let alone a starter — without jeopardizing the Lakers’ potential access to the mid-level exception next summer is limited.
Kings forward De’Andre Hunter and Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma, who was with the Lakers from 2017-21 and won the 2020 championship with the franchise, stand out as the best trade options.
Could Kyle Kuzma and the Lakers reunite? Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Hunter ($24.9 million) and Kuzma ($20.5 million) are entering the final season of their respective four-year, $90 million deals.
Trading for either would likely require the Lakers to send a combination of Hardy, Knecht or Jarred Vanderbilt, in addition to draft picks.
The Lakers previously had interest in trading for Hunter ahead of the deadline in February before the Cavaliers sent him to the Kings as part of a three-team deal with the Bulls.
There isn’t any known current interest in Hunter or Kuzma from the Lakers’ side, but they would likely be their best external backup options this summer with Kuminga no longer available.
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It’s that time of year when New Jersey Devils players begin returning to the Garden State and settling back into their season routines. While some are already skating at RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House, others will be arriving soon, including 25-year-old Arseny Gritsyuk, who is preparing for his second NHL season after a promising rookie campaign.
In his first year, the Russian winger appeared in 66 games, recording 31 points (13 goals, 18 assists). He opened the season alongside Paul Cotter but moved throughout the lineup as the year progressed. Eventually, Gritsyuk found consistency alongside Cody Glass at center, with either Lenni Hämeenaho or Connor Brown on the opposite wing.
In early July, he signed a three-year, $9.75 million contract to remain a Devil with an average annual value of $3.25 million.
“I am enjoy rink, enjoy fans,” he said during his media availability. “I seriously love New Jersey Devils.”
His first season in New Jersey came to an early end after he underwent a shoulder procedure in April. He spent the early part of the offseason rehabbing before returning to the ice in July.
With training camp only a few weeks away, one question surrounding the Devils’ forward group is where Gritsyuk will fit into the lineup for the 2026-27 season. With the additions of Anthony Mantha, Evan Rodrigues, and Jesper Boqvist, head coach Sheldon Keefe has plenty of options at his disposal and will likely experiment with several different combinations throughout camp.
One of Gritsyuk’s teammates believes the 6′ 0″ winger has it in him to claim a coveted top six role.
“100%,” Glass exclusively told The Hockey News. “I think he's got the shot. He's got the speed.
“People don’t realize how hard it is moving from Russia to come play in North America,” Glass continued. “Not being able to speak English very well, I think that can be very hard on a person. For how [Gritsyuk] handled it, I think he did a really good job because it is very intimidating.”
During his media availability in July, Gritsyuk admitted that he was “A little bit scared because this for me, new team, new guys, and I play for everybody on PlayStation, and now I sit (at) one table with them.”
Having spent so much time alongside Gritsyuk, Glass got to know the young winger both on and off the ice. So, when he heard the news of Gritsyuk’s new contract, Glass was understandably thrilled.
“I love him,” Glass explained. “He has such a good personality on and off the ice. It was very cool being able to get to know him. His English has gotten a lot better, so it has obviously helped the chemistry on the ice.”
One of the storylines to watch during training camp will be how Gritsyuk’s familiarity and comfort with the team and his surroundings translate to his play on the ice. Can he take the next step and solidify one of the few remaining spots in the Devils’ top six? Or will the coaching staff reunite Gritsyuk with Glass in the middle six?
Regardless of where Gritsyuk ultimately lands in the lineup—and he will likely move around early in the season as Keefe searches for chemistry and the best possible combinations—Glass is confident that the young winger will make an impact.
“Now that he will be more comfortable coming into this second year, he is only going to be better,” Glass continued. “I think everybody saw how good he was, and you never know; next year he could be getting a bigger role. The sky is the limit for him.”
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Kirk Cousins and the Raiders' first-team offense were surprise starters in the team's final preseason game on Thursday night.
Cousins played two series against the 49ers' backups and led the Raiders to Matt Gay field goals of 37 and 53 yards on drives of 12 plays and 46 yards and 10 plays and 45 yards.
The quarterback went 8-of-11 for 51 yards. Tre Tucker caught three passes for 25 yards.
With Ashton Jeanty nursing an ankle injury, Mike Washington was the starting running back. He took advantage of his opportunity with eight carries for 49 yards.
Cousins left with 56 seconds remaining in the first quarter, but the team's other starters stayed on the field with Fernando Mendoza.
New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler reacts while pitching against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (JASON SZENES/ NY POST)
A four-game series against the Red Sox this weekend stands to be pivotal for the Yankees.
For Cam Schlittler, however, every game against the Red Sox is notable.
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That’s just the way it’ll always be for the American League Cy Young Award favorite, who grew up roughly 30 miles from Fenway Park and has taken on the role as Yankees villain in a near yearlong feud with Boston fans following his historic performance against the club in their AL wild-card series last season.
The bad blood, of course, stems from fans hurling death threats and trolling Schlitter and his family on social media in the leadup to the postseason clash.
The 25-year-old, who will start Friday to open the series, is used to it at this point.
“It’s never stopped,” Schlitter said Thursday of Red Sox fans harassing him online ahead of the Yankees series finale against the Astros. “Whether it’s comments on my posts or my messages or Twitter or whatever it is, or messaging people in my family, it’s always been there. It hasn’t stopped at all. I don’t expect it to stop. I feel like I probably created that issue.
“I could have easily just thrown last year and not said anything, but it didn’t feel right to not say anything.”
Playoff position will be on the line as the rivalry is reignited in The Bronx this weekend, with the Red Sox sitting 2 ½ games behind the Yankees in the AL wild-card standings.
The last time these teams met, when the Red Sox swept the series in June, Boston was 15 ½ games back. Since then, they have been one of the hottest teams in baseball. They completely turned their season around, rattling off multiple lengthy winning streaks to close the gap with the rest of the league.
New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
After Ryan Weathers landed on the 15-day injured list with a low-grade left forearm flexor strain, the Yankees also pushed back Schlittler’s scheduled start to line up with the Boston series.
Asked if that was by design or happenstance, Schlitter sounded like he was all for taking the game.
“I was prepared to throw [Thursday against Houston]. Obviously, I pushed that back,” he said. “There’s some decisions to be made. I think the way it pans out over the weekend, we’re in a good spot. I think it was better for Elmer [Rodríguez] to throw [Wednesday], and he obviously pitched very well, so he put us in a good spot. That’s really all you can ask for out of a rookie. I think it lines up.
New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler reacts while pitching against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Thursday, April 23, 2026. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
“We got our guys going against Boston, and it’s an important series. I was fine with it. I think I was going to have a seven-day [gap between starts] no matter what after the Cali trip, anyway, so I guess it’s good to just get that out of the way.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he foresaw just how good the Red Sox were during their last series in Boston, where the Yanks were outscored by a combined 21-9 through the four games.
Having their breakout star pitcher on the mound with a chip on his shoulder, the Yankees hope to keep a hot Red Sox team at bay.
The last time Schlittler faced his hometown team, he gave up five hits over five innings while allowing four runs — but none earned as the Yankees committed four errors on the way to a loss. While that series isn’t in the back of his mind much, Schlittler always has some extra juice for the Red Sox.
“I think it’s just easier [to have that competitive spirit]. Just being from there and the way the fans treated me last year and then into this year, I feel like it’s just easier to get going a little bit,” Schlitter said. “I still respect all the guys over there and everything, but I feel like just being from there makes it easier to kind of be a little more competitive. I don’t really have to search for it as much. It’s just kind of right there in front of me.”
Yes, the White Sox do have a player with positive defensive metrics: Tristan Peters. | Getty Images
Most of the talk about Chicago’s amazing season so far is either about the hitting, which is chugging right along despite some serious slumping here or there. Or even the pitching, which looks like it may be running out of steam (please notice how both references cleverly tie in to old trains). As long as the Savannah Bananas keep furnishing hitters and if management can cleverly find a blister somewhere on Sean Burke so he can get a few weeks of R&R like Davis Martin before the stretch run, both may work out just fine.
That leaves … fielding.
The team’s defense certainly seems to pass the eyeball test with better marks than in recent years, with many fewer bizarre incidents. But should we trust professionally-developed algorithms, or our lying eyes? The algorithms aren’t horrible, but they aren’t impressive, either.
Let’s take a look. For this look, we’ll go with Baseball-Reference. Defense is the category where B-R and FanGraphs are most likely to disagree, because there is some subjectivity to how they value things, but using both all the way through would provide way too many numbers to try to cope with.
Within B-R, we’ll go with the most easily comparable figure, which is Defensive Runs Saved. DRS is created in a way that the league average at each position is zero, so figuring out good versus bad is fairly easy.
And we’ll go by position.
First, a strong point — pitchers Amazingly, at least amazingly if you remember all the pickoff throws to Row Q in recent years, White Sox pitchers score third best in the majors at fielding their position. Yep, they’re at +7 DRS, behind only the Mets and Cubs. There are obviously a whole lot of players involved in this case, so no one or two pitchers get the credit, but the staff as a whole is defending extremely well.
That’s good, because …
Yuck — catchers White Sox catchers have been very good at throwing out runners with larcenous intent, nailing 27% compared to an MLB average of 23%. But that’s where any goodness ends. And boy, is the bad stuff bad.
As a team, they’re 29th, at -10 DRS. Why, you ask?
Well, it may not seem quite as awful as back when Zack Collins was chasing every third pitch back to the wall behind home plate, but the several catchers used by the Sox this year are the runaway leaders in allowing wild pitches. Sure, the pitchers get charged with those, but everything that touches dirt is called a wild pitch these days, and catchers are supposed to block most of those. They haven’t — 60 times they haven’t, five worse than any other team (Angels) and twice as many as the better backstops.
There have been so many different bodies behind the plate, it’s only fair to call it a position-wide problem, not an individual weakness.
The just sorta blah — the infield The infield positions on the South Side share a defensive trait — they’re all slightly worse than average.
That’s a good result at first base, where most scouts figured Munetaka Murakami would be awful. He’s not. Mune scores a -2 DRS — not good, but not terrible, either. That’s in 789 innings of 1,188 the Sox have played, with the two subs while he was on the IL, Miguel Vargas and Jacob Gonzalez, bringing the score up just one point. Overall, the first base D is right in the middle.
It may be a surprise that second base scores more below average, at -4 DRS, 20th in MLB. Half of that is on Chase Meidroth, who has played all but 90 innings at the position, to the tune of -2 DRS. Meidroth makes some terrific plays (and we may forget the awful ones) but his subs — Sam Antonacci being the key — have racked up -2 in just a handful of games.
Even more surprising may be third base, given that the TV crews constantly say what a great fielder Miguel Vargas is. Turns out, he isn’t. The third base total is -3 DRS, and Vargas is good for 921 innings of the coverage there. What he is really good at is catching the ball — only two fielding boo-boos, second-best in MLB. What he’s really bad at is throwing the ball — eight throwing errors, second-worst in MLB for third basemen.
Then, there’s shortstop. Overall, Sox shortstops score -4 DRS, good for 20th place. Colson Montgomery, who has covered 787 of the 1,188 innings, is even worse, at -6 DRS, ranking last of 18 shortstops with qualified innings according to FanGraphs. He has made only eight errors, only two of those throwing, but comes up short (get it?) on getting to balls. (Being slightly below-average on defense would be perfectly fine for a power hitter destined to knock more than 30 homers, but his recent slump also puts Colson at a just-below-average 98 OPS+ even though OPS tends to favor power hitters, and the strikeouts … well. Too bad it’s too late in the season for another Arizona intervention like the one that saved his career last spring.)
So, every infield position is poor, but none are horrible.
At the extremes — the outfield The three outfield spots cover the gamut in defensive performance, at least as far as DRS is concerned.
Right field is right in the middle. As a team, the Sox score just below average there, at -2 DRS. Most of the action in right these days involves Braden Montgomery, who has handled 576 innings at a completely neutral 0 DRS. He had several predecessors in the spot, none noteworthy. As for Braden, his fantastic arm is unfortunately balanced by a tendency to throw before actually catching a ball on the ground, leading to leakiness.
Center field is the true bright spot of the D. The team scores a +6 DRS, good for seventh in MLB, with Tristan Peters amassing all six runs in his 791 innings patrolling the area. Combine that with his sudden surge in hitting in August, and every team is apt to be sending a bunch of scouts to cover Savannah Bananas games from now on.
As for left, that’s sad, especially for those of us who consider Antonacci our favorite player. The eyeball test hasn’t seemed bad, but the data is very unhappy: -12 DRS in left as a team, last in the big leagues. Most of that isn’t on Sam, but he’s at -5 for 771 innings, which is, to put it bluntly, lousy. We can’t even blame Andrew Benintendi’s defensive incompetence for the problem, because he’s been nailed to the bench for all but 55 defensive innings. Heck, we can’t even say, “At least he’s not as awful out there as Andrew Vaughn was,” because Sam’s even worse — at least worse than Vaughn’s first year, when in a similar number of innings he was only -2 DRS. (Vaughn got much, much worse his second year in the outfield, so we have to hope the same thing doesn’t happen with Antonacci.)
So … It’s unlikely Chicago’s drive to the postseason will be led by fancy glovework, but it shouldn’t be killed by defensive lapses, either. Except maybe behind the plate.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 27: Wide receiver Luke Floriea #81 of the Cleveland Browns scores a touchdown against cornerback Kindle Vildor #28 of the New England Patriots in the first quarter of a preseason game at Huntington Bank Field on August 27, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New England Patriots concluded their preseason with a 37-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night.
With Drake Maye and the Patriots frontline players out again, it was a rough showing from New England’s depth players on both sides of the ball — outside of an early highlight from Kyle Williams scoring on another deep ball touchdown.
Here’s everything that went down in the preseason finale.
The Patriots lost the coin toss putting the defense on the field first against Dillon Gabriel and the Browns reserves. A third-down defensive pass interference penalty downfield on Kindle Vildor quickly put Cleveland outside the red zone. From there, the Browns needed just four plays to find the end zone. [Patriots 0 : 7 Browns]
Tommy DeVito drew the start for the Patriots with QB coach Ashton Grant calling offensive plays. After quickly working across midfield, DeVito and Kyle Williams struck again as they connected on a 45-yard touchdown down the left sideline. [Patriots 7 : 7 Browns]
The Browns offense quickly got back to work. Rookie Gabe Jacas bit on a zone-read to allow Gabriel to pick up a third-down with his legs, before the left quarterback found a pair of chunk gains through the air over the middle — the second being a 14-yard touchdown. [Patriots 7 : 14 Browns]
New England then went three-and-out on their next possession as a third-down pass was slightly behind and dropped by Lan Larison out of the backfield. New punter Matt Haack then punted away.
Cleveland’s first play of its new drive goes 52 yards on a deep connection to wide receiver Ben Patterson. Multiple Patriots defenders wrap up Gabriel behind the line of scrimmage on third down in the red zone for a registered sack before kicker Andrew Szmyt adds three to the Browns’ column from 35 yards out. [Patriots 7 : 17 Browns]
Nearing the end of the first quarter, seventh-round rookie Behren Morton replaces DeVito at the helm of the offense. But the signal-caller’s first pass attempt of the evening bounces off the foot of tight end CJ Dippre and falls into the hands of the opposing defense.
Second Quarter
As a result, the Browns took over at New England’s 31-yard line. And after a three-play sequence, Szmyt splits the uprights once more. [Patriots 7 : 20 Browns]
Looking for a response, Morton drove the Patriots offense into the red zone, where kicker Andy Borregales made a 26-yard field goal attempt midway through the frame. New England’s quarterback scrambled for a gain of 14 before connecting for 19 more yards with Kyle Dixon, sitting in a zone coverage soft spot, to cross midfield on the drive. [Patriots 10 : 20 Browns]
Starting its response series just past midfield in New England territory after outside linebacker Amari Gainer was flagged for roughing the passer, Gabriel found running back Ahmani Marshall in the flat, who shed a tackle to secure the score. Cornerback Charles Woods allowed two chunk conversions totaling 39 yards prior. [Patriots 10 : 27 Browns]
The Patriots, taking over with just over two minutes remaining until halftime, had Borregales drill a 33-yard field goal with seven seconds left on the clock. A defensive pass interference call that overturned a deep Morton interception set the Patriots up in Cleveland territory before the no-huddle tempo took effect. [Patriots 13 : 27 Browns]
Third Quarter
Opening the second half, Browns defensive tackle Coziah Izzard broke into New England’s backfield, sacking Morton on a first-down snap. The Patriots were forced to punt after the setback, but seventh-round rookie Quintayvious Hutchins brought down the scrambling returner at the two-yard line after he attempted to create extra yardage.
As Taylen Green replaced Gabriel on Cleveland’s following drive, his offense couldn’t overcome the poor field positioning, going three-and-out.
Despite New England quickly regaining possession, a three-and-out of its own sent the ball right back to the opposition. Recently signed punter Matt Haack delivered a 63-yard kick, pinning the Browns at their own two-yard line halfway through the third.
Fourth Quarter
Nevertheless, to end the quarter-long scoring drought, Cleveland running back Davon Booth capped off a nine-minute, 98-yard scoring drive. The ball carrier broke a missed tackle by Patriots cornerback Kobee Minor, easily waltzing into the end zone for the touchdown. [Patriots 13 : 34 Browns]
The Patriots, operating in an even larger scoring deficit, followed with an offensive series that only lasted five plays. Punting from midfield, Haack’s punt sailed to the Browns’ 19-yard line for a fair catch with 12 minutes remaining.
Cleveland’s goal to close out the game is to chew the clock, which it did for five and a half minutes during a nine-play possession, securing three first downs.
New England then attempted to put together a scoring drive, starting from its own 11, but Morton was hit as he threw on a fourth-and-two play, resulting in an interception. The Browns returned the takeaway to the Patriots’ 12-yard line, turning the defensive stop into a successful field goal just ahead of the two-minute warning. [Patriots 13 : 37 Browns]
Morton completed a couple of passes on the final drive of the contest as the clock ran out.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe will be sidelined for at least six months after surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee, the team announced Thursday.
Sharpe was injured last week during a workout and had surgery Monday in Los Angeles.
The 6-foot-5 shooting guard averaged 20.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 50 games last season with Portland, but missed time because of a stress reaction in his left fibula.
Sharpe, 23, was the seventh overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Blazers. Over his four years with Portland, he has averaged 15.7 points, with four rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
Last October he agreed to a four-year, $90 million contract extension.
The Blazers said Sharpe would be reevaluated in six months.
1906: Future Hall of Famer Eddie Collins made his major league debut for the Philadelphia Athletics, beginning a 25-year career that produced more than 3,300 hits.
1912: Casey Stengel debuted with Brooklyn and collected four singles in a 7-3 victory, launching a career that later led to Hall of Fame honors as a manager.
1920: Representatives of 11 professional football teams met in Canton, Ohio, and formed the American Professional Football Association, which became the NFL in 1922. Massillon withdrew during the meetings; Jim Thorpe was elected the league’s first president.
1931: Boston Red Sox outfielder Earl Webb established a major league record by reaching 65 doubles on the season, a mark he eventually pushed to a still-standing 67.
1941: Stan Musial made his major league debut and doubled home two runs as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Boston Braves in the second game of a doubleheader.
1947: Jackie Robinson was named The Sporting News Rookie of the Year after breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier during his historic first season.
1953: Ernie Banks became the first Black player in Chicago Cubs history, starting at shortstop in his major league debut against the Philadelphia Phillies.
1954: Heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano, fighting with a badly split nose, knocked out Ezzard Charles in the eighth round of their rematch at Yankee Stadium.
1955: Brooks Robinson made his major league debut with the Baltimore Orioles, the first game of a Hall of Fame career at third base.
1964: Mickey Mantle recorded both his 2,000th career hit and 450th home run in the Yankees’ victory over Detroit.
1965: Hank Aaron hit two home runs and drove in three runs as the Milwaukee Braves snapped San Francisco’s 14-game winning streak in the Braves’ final win in Milwaukee before moving to Atlanta.
1968: Gaylord Perry struck out nine and threw a no-hitter against Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals, leading the San Francisco Giants to a 1-0 victory at Candlestick Park.
1983: Cincinnati Reds star Johnny Bench hit the 389th and final home run of his career on “Johnny Bench Night” at Riverfront Stadium.
1984: The California Angels’ Reggie Jackson hit his 500th career home run, reaching the milestone exactly 17 years after hitting his first major league homer.
1993: The expansion Colorado Rockies surpassed 4 million in home attendance during their 71st home date, breaking Major League Baseball’s single-season attendance record.
1996: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo threw the first and only no-hitter in Coors Field history, beating the Colorado Rockies 9-0 in one of baseball’s most hitter-friendly ballparks.
2000: Thirteen-year-old Lionel Messi arrived in Barcelona from Argentina for a trial with FC Barcelona, beginning the process that led to his celebrated career.
2000: The Miami Dolphins retired Dan Marino’s No. 13 jersey, honoring the Hall of Fame quarterback’s 17-year career with the franchise.
2004: Barry Bonds hit his 700th career home run off San Diego’s Jake Peavy, becoming the third major league player to reach the milestone.
2011: Mariano Rivera recorded his 601st career save in the New York Yankees’ 7-6 victory over Toronto, tying Trevor Hoffman’s major league record.
2017: Anna Nordqvist won the Evian Championship after a playoff victory over Brittany Altomare, securing her second of three major championships.
2024: Juan Soto hit his 200th career home run and became the eighth major league player to reach the milestone before his 26th birthday as the New York Yankees defeated Seattle.
— USA TODAY Network
This story was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of information gathering, review, editing and publishing. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
NaLyssa Smith has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season, the Las Vegas Aces announced Thursday. Smith, one of the Aces’ starters and a key part of last year’s championship team, suffered a non-contact left leg injury against the Toronto Tempo on Sunday and left the game immediately.
Smith was the fourth-leading scorer on the Aces’ active roster with 11.7 points per game and was the second-leading rebounder with 6.4 per contest. She was also leading the WNBA in field-goal percentage (63.8 percent). By most advanced metrics, she was the most valuable player on Las Vegas outside the big three of A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray.
“Lyss is a soldier,” Wilson said postgame Sunday. “God has his hands on her, and we’re going to continue to be beside her through this whole process.”
The Aces acquired Smith on June 30 last season. She joined the starting lineup one game later, and the team went 21-5 the rest of the way before winning a third title in five seasons.
The team now has a gaping hole at the power forward slot. Head coach Becky Hammon often closes with a small lineup, with either Gray or Jewell Loyd playing the 4 on defense. However, for the rest of the game, Brianna Turner and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus are closer to centers; Turner has offensive limitations while Hammon doesn’t appear to trust Parker-Tyus’ defense. Rookie Justine Pissott seems unlikely to gain a larger role in the rotation, as she has played only 81 minutes in 2026 thus far.
Smith’s absence will be felt most acutely on the glass. Las Vegas struggles to generate second chances without her on the court. The sixth-year forward is an athletic rebounder and has learned to fill the gaps created by defenses focusing on Wilson in the frontcourt.
The Aces have already been granted a season-ending injury exemption for Smith, so they can sign a free agent at a minimum contract to replace her. They were in the running for DeWanna Bonner but lost out to the Atlanta Dream. The deadline has passed for players to be eligible for the postseason if waived by another team, so Las Vegas has to look outside the WNBA for options.
It has already done so this season by signing Mai Yamamoto on July 17 to replace Janiah Barker. Yamamoto has become a key part of the rotation since. The upcoming 17-day FIBA break could be an opportunity for a new player to acclimate to Hammon’s system in Las Vegas.
The Aces are third in the WNBA standings, a half-game ahead of the Dream with the tiebreaker. They have the easiest remaining schedule in the league; all five of their upcoming games are against lottery teams.
It’s unlikely that Las Vegas can move up, as the No. 1 seed is out of reach and the Golden State Valkyries are two losses ahead with only one game remaining against a fellow playoff team. However, the No. 3 seed should be the floor for the Aces, even without Smith the rest of the way.
1919: Cincinnati defeated the New York Giants 4-3 to clinch the first National League pennant in franchise history.
1924: St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Jim Bottomley went 6-for-6 with two home runs and a major-league-record 12 RBIs in a 17-3 victory over the Brooklyn Robins.
1937: Washington, DC’s NFL team played its first regular-season game since relocating from Boston, defeating the New York Giants 13-3 at Griffith Stadium.
1950: The four-time All-America Football Conference champion Cleveland Browns made their NFL debut by routing the defending NFL champion Philadelphia Eagles 35-10.
1960: At age 39, Milwaukee Braves pitcher Warren Spahn struck out 15 and threw the first of his two career no-hitters, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0.
1973: Buffalo Bills running back O.J. Simpson rushed for 250 yards and two touchdowns in a season-opening victory over the New England Patriots, beginning his march toward the NFL’s first 2,000-yard rushing season.
1975: The Pittsburgh Pirates crushed the Chicago Cubs 22-0 at Wrigley Field, producing the largest shutout victory in the major leagues since 1900. The Pirates’ Rennie Stennett went 7-for-7, becoming the only player since 1900 to collect seven hits in a nine-inning game.
1981: Sugar Ray Leonard stopped previously unbeaten Thomas Hearns in the 14th round at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas to unify the welterweight championship.
1988: Cincinnati Reds left-hander Tom Browning pitched the first perfect game in franchise history, retiring all 27 Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1-0 victory at Riverfront Stadium.
1989: Raghib “Rocket” Ismail returned two kickoffs for second-half touchdowns as No. 1 Notre Dame defeated No. 2 Michigan 24-19 before 105,912 fans at Michigan Stadium.
1992: The first matches of the newly rebranded UEFA Champions League were played, beginning the inaugural season of Europe’s premier club competition under its new name.
1993: Minnesota Twins designated hitter Dave Winfield singled against Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley to become the 19th major-league player to reach 3,000 career hits.
1996: Paul Molitor collected his 3,000th career hit and became the first major leaguer to reach the milestone with a triple.
2000: Switzerland’s Brigitte McMahon won the women’s triathlon at the Sydney Games, capturing the first Olympic gold medal awarded in the sport.
2000: Chicago Cubs star Sammy Sosa hit his 50th home run of the season, becoming only the second player in MLB history to reach 50 homers in three consecutive years.
2004: NHL owners locked out the players after the collective bargaining agreement expired, beginning the labor stoppage that ultimately wiped out the entire 2004-05 season.
2007: Tiger Woods won the Tour Championship by eight strokes at East Lake and captured the inaugural FedEx Cup championship.
2007: Jim Thome hit his 500th career home run in dramatic fashion, delivering a two-run, walk-off shot in the ninth inning of the Chicago White Sox’s 9-7 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
2007: The Phoenix Mercury defeated the defending champion Detroit Shock 108-92 in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals, winning the first championship in franchise history as Cappie Pondexter earned Finals MVP honors.
2018: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw six touchdown passes in a win over Pittsburgh and set an NFL record with 10 touchdown passes through his team’s first two games of a season.
— USA TODAY Network
This story was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of information gathering, review, editing and publishing. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
Kansas City | “Yes” 35¢ | 29% Chance
Stays with Miami or Retires | “Yes” 26¢ | 26% Chance
BUY: Baltimore | “Yes” 2¢ | 1% Chance
NaLyssa Smith has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season, the Las Vegas Aces announced Thursday. Smith, one of the Aces’ starters and a key part of last year’s championship team, suffered a non-contact left leg injury against the Toronto Tempo on Sunday and left the game immediately.