New York Islanders veteran center Bo Horvat was seen training with one of the team's top prospects, defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, as the two prepare for the coming 2026-27 season:
Early July:
Bo Horvat and Kashawn Aitcheson already getting ready for next season đ #Isles
Aitcheson, who recently attended the team's development camp from June 29 through July 2, was selected by the Islanders with the 17th pick in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
The 19-year-old earned placement on the CHL and OHL First All-Star Teams after leading the OHL in goals (28) and points (70) as captain of the Barrie Colts last season.
Seeing NHL ice in the coming season is not necessarily out of the question, but the extensive depth on the left side of the organizationâs blue line and Aitcheson's lack of professional experience make 2027-28 a more realistic timeline for him to push for an NHL roster spot.
Instead, he is expected to start 2026-27 with the Hamilton Hammers of the American Hockey League.
Horvat, who led the Islanders with 31 goals in 2025-26, is once again reflecting his leadership as he remains a candidate to replace Anders Lee as the 16th captain in franchise history.
A change is coming to the Spurs broadcast booth after shocking allegations exploded on social media.
Jacob Tobey is out as the teamâs play-by-play announcer after his girlfriend accused him on social media of cheating with a relative of a Spurs player, per Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports.
Earlier this week an Instagram Story was posted on Tobeyâs account alleging his cheating with Loren Waters, who is the sister of Spurs guard Lindy Waters III.
Jacob Tobey and Sean Elliott smiles during the game between the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas on October 9, 2024. NBAE via Getty Images
Spurs broadcaster Jacob Tobey via IG:
âThis is my girlfriend of six years. But I cheated on her with Loren Waters. So feel free to continue following me if you really think Iâm a good guy because Iâm not. :)â
âThis is my girlfriend of six years,â the post read. âBut I cheated on her with Loren Waters. So feel free to continue following me if you really think Iâm a good guy because Iâm not. :)â
The post was soon followed by another that featured what appeared to be photo booth prints of Tobey and Loren Waters kissing.
Fans suggested the posts were uploaded by Tobeyâs girlfriend, who may have access to the account.
Jacob Tobey performs the national anthem before the game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 24, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NBAE via Getty Images
Tobeyâs social accounts have since been turned to private.
Tobey, who has also sang the national anthem before Spurs games, previously announced in June he signed a multi-year extension to remain in the role.
Prior to arriving in San Antonio, Tobey called play-by-play for various outlets including Fox Sports and the Pac-12 Network.
The Summer Sixers tip off in Vegas starting Thursday night against the Detroit Pistons at 5:30 p.m. on Amazon Prime and NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Here are five players to watch.
Labaron Philon, G
Just because itâs obvious doesnât mean it canât be true. Itâs time to see if the Sixers truly struck gold again outside of the lottery. Not that Summer League is a huge barometer for that measurement, but itâs at least a start if Philon can go out and dominate, particularly against teams who had a first-round pick selected higher than he was.
Johni Broome, PF/C
Broome is probably the most intriguing name of the bunch here, and not necessarily in a good way. Having been selected at the top of last yearâs second round, Broome barely saw any NBA action as a rookie and also missed time with an injury towards the end of the season. Is he simply not an NBA player or did his rookie season just go sideways and he can turn things around? If he canât perform at a high level in summer league, Broomeâs stock will continue to trend down.
Duke Miles, G
Now itâs on to the lottery tickets, which is really what Summer League is all about. Miles signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Philadelphia after not getting drafted. He was a bouncy guard at Vanderbilt who averaged 16.1 points per game last season with 3.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.6 steals. Age isnât working in Milesâ favor though as heâs 24 and turning 25 in February. Nevertheless, he seems like someone that could have a few moments off the dribble and some nice finishes around the rim for a 6-foot-2 guard.
Drew Cisse, C
Cisseâs another player in his mid 20s but he has spent the last couple years living the nomadic G League life. For what itâs worth, he does seem like a rebounding machine and had a very impressive 20 offensive rebounds in a game for Delaware last season. For a team thatâs been as bad at rebounding as the Sixers have been, maybe Cisse can open some eyes.
Nick Townsend, PF
A high-level college achiever who is still just 21 years old gets a look with Philly for the next couple weeks. Townsend was the Ivy League Player of the Year at Yale last season and also a first-team All-Ivy League selection in 2024-25. He shot a very impressive 46.3% from three-point range last season so if he can get close to that in Summer League, he would certainly garner some attention.
The crown jewel of the NBA's Summer League is set to see several top rookies grace the court in Sin City tonight, including No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa and No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson.
Their matchup leads off our NBA Summer League picks for Thursday, July 9.
NBA Summer League predictions for July 9
Pick
Jazz moneyline
-133
Kings moneyline
-150
Today's Summer League Picks
Jazz moneyline (-133 at Kalshi)
The Utah Jazz are among the teams that have already begun play this summer, and they got off to a hot start in the Salt Lake City Summer League. After going 3-0 in their home state, the Jazz's young corps will take advantage of a Washington Wizards squad playing its first game together.
Darryn Peterson has been dynamite for Utah thus far, racking up 53 points in 55 minutes on 52.7% shooting. He's not alone, with the Jazz also seeing eye-raising performances from Cody Williams (35 points on 57.8% shooting) and Max Abmas (40 points and 16 assists).
The Jazz have a lot of young talent in Vegas, including Ace Bailey and Jaxon Kohler, and should push this Wizards team.
While AJ Dybantsa is the No. 1 pick, he's making his debut and doesn't have a ton around him beyond last year's No. 6 pick, Tre Johnson.
Kings moneyline (-150 at Kalshi)
Led by No. 7 pick Darius Acuff Jr., the Sacramento Kings put up a 3-0 record in the California Classic. Acuff's scoring prowess has been on full display for Sacramento and should be the difference against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Arkansas product has scored 47 points in 52 minutes of Summer League play, and the attention he draws against Los Angeles should help open things up for fellow rookie Emanuel Sharp (31 points in 61 minutes).
Although the Clippers will be deploying fifth overall pick Keaton Wagler, Acuff already has experience beating guards selected in the lottery after defeating Brayden Burries and the Milwaukee Bucks last week.
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Thursdayâs NBA Summer League parlay
Jazz moneyline
Kings moneyline
+192 at Kalshi
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NBA Summer League isnât just the event in Las Vegas. They keep hosting these miniature Summer Leagues in California and Salt Lake City the week before everyone goes to Nevada. Iâve never heard an explanation as to why they exist, but they keep on doing them.
In any case, with Vegas Summer League starting today, I wanted to check in with Chase Ross and Olivier-Maxence Prosper, the two former Marquette menâs basketball players who were on the rosters in California and Utah respectively. It could give us an idea of what to expect from both men as the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies move from one event to the other.
Chase Ross
Even though Ross was fresh off agreeing to an Exhibit 10 contract with Los Angeles, he didnât see the court in either of the Lakersâ first two games in California. LA split the first two games, falling 104-72 to Golden Stateâs Gold team in the opener and then beating Miami 93-91 in the second contest. The second DNP for Ross wasnât that surprising seeing as Golden State went up 20 before halftime and led by as many as 37 and he couldnât get in the game.
Ross did get a chance to play in the third game of the event, which goes into the books as an 88-84 victory for the Lakers. He subbed in at the 5:44 mark of the first quarter with the Spurs up 11-4 at the time. He finished with 14:30 of playing time and recorded four points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Ross went 1-for-5 from the field, missing both of his three-point attempts, but at least the social team highlighted his one bucket:
That pulled the Lakers within two, 53-51, in the middle of the third quarter, and it was the trigger on a 10-3 burst for Los Angeles.
Itâs good that he got rotation minutes in a competitive game after going DNP for the first two games. I donât think that quite tells us anything about what to expect in Las Vegas. Maybe cross our fingers that they let him go a little bit more?
Olivier-Maxence Prosper
Memphis went 1-2 in Utah, beating Oklahoma City 111-74 in their opener before taking a nine point loss to Utah and a 14 point loss to Atlanta to wrap things up. Prosper actually led Memphis in scoring in the OKC game, putting up 17 points on 5-for-8 shooting in 23 minutes of action. He went 2-for-3 from behind the arc and added five rebounds and three assists as well. It is deeply funny that he is listed as the Grizzlies starting center in the box score when Cameron Boozer, their 2026 lottery pick, is right there with him, just at forward.
Prosper started against Utah and had another solid game. He scored 16 points on 5-for-11 shooting, which means he was 2-for-3 inside the arc along with 3-for-8 outside of it. Three rebounds, two assists, and a steal in over 28 minutes of action is pretty good stuff as well, even if the Grizz came up short at the horn. He didnât play at all in the third game, but neither did Boozer or Cedric Coward, who played in 62 games for Memphis as a rookie this past season.
Iâd wager this all means weâll see a healthy dose of Prosper in Vegas, at least as long as the Grizzlies are in contention for the semifinals. Memphis already exercised the option on his contract for 2026-27, which they did not need to do if they didnât plan on keeping him around all year. I wouldnât read too much into his playing time in Nevada, but it would be nice to see him continue to be a major contributor at this level.
In a deeply ironic twist, Cutter Gauthier could be the wildcard who makes or breaks the Philadelphia Flyers in their pursuit of a successful Leo Carlsson offer sheet.
Gauthier, 22, is a restricted free agent in need of a new contract, much like teammate Carlsson. And, like Carlsson, it is going to be an expensive one, beyond a shadow of a doubt.
The former top Flyers prospect scored 20 goals and 44 points last season, before exploding for 41 goals and 69 points in his sophomore NHL season this year. We can reasonably assume that the next big milestone for Gauthier is going to be 50 goals, and players who can score that many don't come around too often.
And while that undoubtedly stings for the Flyers and Flyers fans, it may work out to their benefit yet.
We already know that Carlsson and his $18 million cap hit, thanks to the Flyers' offer sheet, is going to put the Anaheim Ducks in a major salary cap bind, and the structure of the contract will require the Ducks and their ownership to pay over $38 million in signing bonuses in the first 12 months of the contract.
What happens, then, when the Ducks dole out another big-money contract from Gauthier--which should come in well over $10 million, and potentially in the $15 million range now--especially if that contract is also laden in signing bonuses?
That would mean Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek going to (a very wealthy) ownership and asking for their blessing to spend nearly $100 million in up-front cash in signing bonuses in a 12-month period, between the signing of the contract and this time next year.
Are the Ducks going to be allowed to do that, knowing that, by spending all that money, they won't have any left to allocate to actually build a good team that can win games, bring in revenue, and keep a fanbase engaged?
Rich people get rich for a reason, and they typically don't like to invest money into something that isn't going to make them more money, or at least take a very long time to do so.
And that's without even mentioning that the Ducks would have to gut their roster and somehow find suitors for some combination of Chris Kreider (Carlsson's left wing), Alex Killorn, and Frank Vatrano to make the hockey aspect work.
While he may not do so intentionally, Cutter Gauthier is very much in a position to land the team that drafted him into the NHL a No. 1 center of the future.
All he has to do is up the ask on his next contract a bit higher, and the Ducks will inevitably be forced to keep one or the other, but not both.
Charles Basseyâs five-game audition with the Warriors paid off.
The veteran center and Golden State have agreed to a one-year contract for the 2026-27 NBA season, ESPNâs Shams Charania reported Thursday, citing sources.
The Golden State Warriors and center Charles Bassey have agreed on a one-year deal, bringing the big man back to the Bay Area for his sixth NBA season, sources tell ESPN. Bassey returns to Golden State in wake of Quinten Post joining the Grizzlies on an offer sheet. pic.twitter.com/JtH32Cy21R
The 25-year-old Bassey now is in line to be the Warriorsâ third center behind veterans Al Horford and Kristaps PorziĆÄŁis.
Per ESPNâs Anthony Slater, Bassey assumes the Warriorsâ 11th roster spot.
Charles Bassey fills the 11th roster spot. Young backup energy big who can absorb regular season minutes.
Itâs anticipated Draymond Green will eventually fill 12th spot. Warriors also plan to maintain roster room for LeBron James until his decision is made. https://t.co/cfYLOPCccB
Bassey spent time last season with the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics before signing a 10-day contract with the Warriors on April 5.
In five games, Bassey averaged 10.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in 20.0 minutes off the bench.
Overall, in five seasons with the Warriors, Celtics, 76ers, Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs, the 2021 second-round draft pick is averaging 4.5 points and 4.3 rebounds in 126 games.
While the Warriors wait for LeBron James to make his decision and Draymond Green to likely sign a new contract, they secured a valuable depth piece.
Spurs forward Carter Bryant makes his second-year Summer League debut Thursday at 3:30 pm CST against San Antonio native Kingston Flemings and the Atlanta Hawks.
The Summer Spurs will play at least four games in Las Vegas after going 0-3 in the California Classic.
Around the Horn
Vegas Prep: Yahooâs Kevin OâConnor posted a list of the top 50 players to watch in Vegas. Not much love for the Spurs ⊠Bryant is nowhere to be found (thatâs a big oopsie) and Tarris Reed, Jr., is way down the list.
From Mark Zuckerberg to El Jefe? Jesse Eisenberg, an Oscar-nominated actor most known for the lead role of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, recently said his dream role is playing Gregg Popovich. Eisenberg on Pop: âI just find him to be the most fascinating person on the planet. Hereâs this tough coach who cries sometimes and talks about the plight of America, and yet heâs also this terrifying figure who can be so mean to journalists. People like that are fascinating because, on the one hand, theyâre known to be very nasty, and on the other hand theyâre these bleeding hearts.â
Top of the Heap: Speaking of Pop, he came to mind Wednesday night when Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve became the WNBAâs all-time regular season wins leader with 380. Like Popovich in the NBA, she now holds both the WNBAâs regular season record and overall mark (including playoff victories). Interestingly, Reeveâs career winning percentage ranks behind just one person: former Spurs assistant and Silver Stars guard Becky Hammon, the head coach for the Las Vegas Aces.
Highest Bidder:Darren Rovell reports that various items from the recent NBA Finals brought in big money through a Sothebyâs auction. Various New York Knicksâ game-used jerseys collectively approached $2 million while Finals-branded court panels from Madison Square Garden and a net from Game 5 combined to eclipse $500,000.
By George: Last weekâs Philadelphia-Boston blockbuster trade has some calling Paul George âthe most valuable player in NBA history.â Given that heâs been traded for All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylen Brown plus other good players and a slew of valuable draft picks (we see you, OKC), itâs a compelling argument.
Word Play: On a recent NBA Radio show on Sirius XM, Zach Harper and Chris Haynes debated the words that need to disappear from the leagueâs vocabulary. Their picks were âoptionalityâ and âcurated.â What words do you think need to be banned from the NBA? Let us know in the comments below!
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 31: Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) turns up ice during the second period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings on March 31, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Expectations for the 2026-27 Pittsburgh Penguins are not quite as low as they were going into the 2025-26 season, when it was generally expected that they would not only be one of the worst teams in the NHL, but that they were the only team in the NHL that was not actually trying to win.
The expectations, however, are also not particularly high, even coming off a 98-point season with strong underlying numbers and a playoff berth.
This was, by almost every objective measure that we have to evaluate hockey teams, a very good hockey team.
The belief in that happening again is not really carrying over. Especially with the odds makers.
BetMGM has their Stanley Cup odds right now at +10000, which is 22nd in the entire NHL.
Their odds to win the Eastern Conference are +4000, which is 13th in the conference and below the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils ⊠all teams that missed the playoffs entirely a year ago, and outside of Toronto, all teams that have done very little to their rosters this offseason.
They are +210 to make the playoffs, -275 to miss the playoffs.
Their point total is between 88.5 and 91.5 depending on the sportsbook you are looking at right now.
That is an expectation for a step back.
From a more subjective standpoint, the general feel around just seems to be that a step back is likely, and that not everything will go as well as it did a year ago. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust and Erik Karlsson are all a year older. Some of them showed some signs of slowing down and running out of steam in the playoffs. At some point the decline for some of these guys will get a little steeper than it has been. I would argue it has already started for Letang. Will this be the year for some more of them? It is certainly possible.
Going into the 2025-26 season I thought there was at least a chance the Penguins were going to be better than everybody expected, especially given the makeup of the forward unit. And that was before we knew that Ben Kindel was going to be an NHL player â and a very good one! â right away.
So letâs take that same mindset into this season and if there is a pathway for them to better than most people expect.
The first factor here is the reality the Penguins still have $16.9 million in salary cap space at their disposal and a couple of months to still add to the roster. I donât know if that is Jason Robertson or somebody else, but there is definitely still the path for a big move of some kind should they find the right match. I feel like the Robertson hope is dwindling more and more each day, but there is a definite opportunity to do something.
But even if there isnât another big move, the most obvious pathway for another âbetter than expectedâ season rests with the forwards. Again.
Even with Anthony Mantha and Noel Accairi leaving, this should still be a very deep group that will be capable of rolling four lines every night and scoring a lot of goals. Going down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton I feel like there are legitimately 17 or 18 forwards that can play meaningful NHL minutes this season, and play them well enough to compete.
That includes, obviously, Sidney Crosby who is still a top-line player whose presence alone is going to give the Penguins a chance on most nights over an 82-game season.
But there are also the wild-card factors with the forwards and the potential improvement that could come from the younger-ish players in the lineup.
How much better is a 19-year-old Ben Kindel with a full year of NHL experience under his belt? Is there a potential for a big breakout here? That changes the math for a lot of things.
What does Egor Chinakhov look like in Pittsburgh in a full season? With a three-year, $18 million contract there is at least some belief from the front office. The talent is certainly there. That would also change the math.
Does somebody like a Nicholas Robertson or Elmer Soderblom breakout the way Chinakhov did? The underlying numbers suggest at least some chance for it.
I would even expand that a little to the defense and Kaedan Korczak, who spent the past few years excelling in a smaller role with the Vegas Golden Knights and could have a chance for a bigger role here.
There are some potentially high ceilings there.
As it relates to the latter point and Korczak, half of the defense has been turned over with Korczak, Declan Carlile and Trevor van Riemsdyk all joining the roster, along with a full season of Sam Girard. I am still a little bullish on Girard and want to see what a fresh start to the season does for him (especially if they can get him away from Letang), and I at least like the profile of the new additions. van Riemsdyk is rock solid defender, and has been for some time. The fact he was the first guy they signed in free agency, right after the signing period opened, is a good indication they had their eyes on him as a primary target.
The biggest weakness for the 2025-26 Penguins was their defensive play, and they did spend a lot of resources in overhauling that unit.
They finished the regular season 20th in expected goals per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play, 23rd in scoring chances against and 22nd in high-danger scoring chances against.
There are a lot of new faces on that unit now, and it does not include the possibility of somebody like a Harrison Brunicke (who seemed to get better across the board as the season progressed) or Owen Pickering getting a chance.
The bigger X-factor, however, is going to be with the goalies, and there is arguably nothing that will impact the floor and ceiling of this team more than that. And it is something that was not particularly good over the full season a year ago.
They finished 24th in the league in all-situations save percentage, but were a little better in goals saved above expected (plus 10 saved above expected).
They seem fully on board with the Sergei Murashov and Arturs Silovs duo, and it is without question the biggest mystery and unknown on the roster. The upside is significant. The floor is low. You just never know how young goalies are going to play, and you just never know what that is going to look like over a full season and behind a questionable defense. I could see these guys being the reason they make the playoffs again and potentially go further. I could see them being the reason they unintentionally end up high on the lottery odds.
Jul 8, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Ryan Thompson (81) throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images | David Frerker-Imagn Images
Team News
Torey Lovullo ejected in Diamondbacks loss to Padres
The 3 small eyes on a beeâs head detect light and help them escape from predators approaching from above. The 2 visible front eyes help them with navigation and recognizing shapes.
The human tongue heals the fastest compared to all body parts.
This is due to the rich supply of blood that circulates the tongue. It may also be because the mouth is constantly replenishing your taste buds.
4 out of 5 children recognize the Mcdonaldâs logo at 3 years old.
These kids can recognize the golden arches before they even know their own names.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 06: Egor Demin #8 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on against the Golden State Warriors during the second half of the California Classic at Golden 1 Center on July 06, 2026 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The most startling statistic for Brooklyn Nets last week in Sacramento may also be the most important going forward ⊠not just for the 2026-27 season.
On Thursday, Brian Lewis encapsulated what others have also noticed:
After being just 1-for-4 from 2-point range in three summer league tilts last year, DĂ«minâs auspicious 11-for-12 bodes well moving forward.
Demin, still only 20, has already made fools of those who said he couldnât shoot by setting one rookie shooting record â 34 consecutive games with a three â and hitting nearly 40% (38.5%) of his attempts and with volume. Eight times he hit five or more in a game with his top game seven vs. the Golden State Warriors back on December 29. Twenty times, he made three or more.
Now it looks like he may make fools of another set of critics from last season: those who said he would only be 3-point threat not a well-rounded offensive player.
âThere was definitely one of the biggest points of emphasis,â DĂ«min told The Post about his off-season. âThe first time I met with the Nets last year in the predraft, I said Iâm not going to sit here and tell you what Iâm good at. Iâm going to make sure you know that Iâm aware of my weaknesses. So sometimes itâs a big advantage for the players to know what their weaknesses are over what is their strength.
âSo, itâs been an advantage for me for the past summer and this summer as well, just knowing what to work on, what I really want to improve. ⊠But obviously the goal is to get higher and higher on that, and master the game.â
Itâs no surprise that the plantar fasciitis that caused him to miss a lot of development time last summer than 32 games in the season factored into what he could and couldnât do, as did his physique. Now, he says heâs good having put on 13 to 15 pounds. Itâs not just his fans who have noticed, even his rookie backcourt mate who watched from afar last season has seen the change.
âYeah, absolutely,â Mikel Brown Jr. told The Post of DĂ«minâs growth. âYou see the growth from him being more aggressive, playing more physical. He got adapted to that style of the ball.
âThe NBA is very physical; youâre playing against grown men. So youâve got to be able to adapt. And you can see it. Heâs way more physical. Heâs more adamant about getting into his spots. No matter how tough and how physical the defender is, heâs going to get to his spots regardless. So you can see the growth from that.â
So, too, have his coaches.
âHeâs done an outstanding job of putting weight on,â Nets summer league coach Dutch Gaitley told The Post. âBut itâs easy to just show it off while youâre walking around the gym. The hard part is now can you have carryover?
âAnd Egor has been able to show his ability to get into the paint, hit midrange, get into the paint and make plays for other guys. Thatâs probably been his most [encouraging growth]. His comfort level with his strength is just going to open up so much of his game for himself or his teammates.â
Then thereâs the shift in aura, crystalized by that windmill dunk vs. the Warriors at the close of the first half Monday. As C.J. Holmes of that Daily News writes, âThe hairâs different. The fits are sharper. The frame looks stronger.â
Yes, as Lewis notes, itâs always somewhat of a foolâs errand to extrapolate Summer League performance into something sustainable. The annals of NBA Summer League is littered with MVPs who are no longer in the league or barely hanging on ⊠and that includes Jalen Wilson and Cam Thomas.
But Demin is also someone with certain advantages. He was the tallest guard ever measured at the NBA Combine and has court vision as well as a shooting stroke and now has shown not just a skill but a willingness to drive the lane. The Nets took a lot of hits from pundits and draftniks after the Draft for taking him so high at No. 8 last uear. ESPN had him at No. 13 in their final mock, Bleacher Report at No. 19. Then again, there was griping about how he didnât make either the first or second All-Rookie team which may or may not have been a function of him missing all those games.
But never mind all that. Itâs a new season and Demin wants to re-invent his narrative once again. So far, so good.
The Red Sox (42-48) will look to complete a three-game sweep of the White Sox (47-44) this afternoon at Rate Field in Chicago. Boston has now won five in a row while the Sox have lost four of their last six.
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Boston continued its recent surge last night with a convincing 5-0 victory. The Red Sox broke through against White Sox starter Davis Martin with three runs in the third inning and two more in the fourth, then let left-hander Jake Bennett do the rest. Bennett turned in seven scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while striking out four. Tsung-Che Cheng collected two hits and two RBIs, while Ceddanne Rafaela added an RBI double. The White Sox managed just four hits in the game and have scored but a single run in the first two games of the series.
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Despite the loss, Chicago still leads the AL Central by one game over the Guardians. The Sox climb north in the Wild Card standings continued last night with the win. Boston now site but three games out of a playoff spot.
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Patrick Sandoval takes the ball for the Red Sox today. It will be his debut with Boston and his first appearance in a game in any uniform following Tommy John surgery followed by a few setbacks. Sandoval has not appeared in a major league game since June 2024. His most recent outing came on a rehab assignment with Double-A Portland on July 4, when he fired five scoreless innings, allowed just one hit and one walk, struck out seven, and threw 68 pitches. Boston is expected to monitor his workload closely this afternoon.
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The White Sox counter with veteran left-hander Anthony Kay (6-3, 4.29 ERA). Kay's most recent start came July 3 against Cleveland, where he was effective despite Chicago taking a tough-luck extra-inning loss. Kay allowed just one run on one hit across four innings, walking two and striking out two. Prior to that outing, he struggled against Kansas City on June 28, surrendering five runs (three earned) over 3.2 innings, though he had delivered six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts against Cleveland in the start before that.
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Lets dive into tonightâs matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Weâve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Red Sox vs. White Sox
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Date:Â Thursday, July 9, 2026
Time:Â 2:10PM EST
Site: Rate Field
City:Â Chicago, IL
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, NESN, CSN
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Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
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The Latest Odds: Red Sox vs. White Sox
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Boston Red Sox (+100), Chicago White Sox (-120)
Spread: Red Sox -1.5 (+163), White Sox +1.5 (-199)
Total: 9.0 runs
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Probable Starting Pitchers and their Stats: Red Sox vs. White Sox for July 9
Red Sox: Patrick Sandoval Season Totals: This is Sandovalâs first start of the season
White Sox: Anthony Kay Season Totals: 84.0 IP, 6-3, 4.29 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 67K, 33 BB
Whoâs Hot? Whoâs Not! Red Sox vs. White Sox
Wilyer Abreu is 1-8 in this series and 4-24 in July
Caleb Durbin went 2-3 last night to snap an 0-12 stretch over the previous 3 games
Sam Antonacci is 4-6 in this series
Ceddanne Rafaela has hit safely in 6 straight games (10-28)
Willson Contreras went 0-2 last night to snap his 5-game hitting streak
Colson Montgomery is 0-8 in this series and 5-26 this month
Chase Meidroth is 1-7 through the first 2 games of this series
 Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Red Sox vs. White Sox
The White Sox are 52-39 on the Run Line this season
The Red Sox are 41-49 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 52 times in Chicagoâs 91 games this season (52-37-2)
The OVER has cashed 41 times in Bostonâs 90 games this season (41-45-4)
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Expert picks & predictions: Red Sox vs. White Sox
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
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Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for todayâs game between the Red Sox and the White Sox:
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Moneyline:Â Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Red Sox on the Moneyline.
Spread:Â Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Red Sox on the Run Line.
Total:Â Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.
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CHICAGO, IL - CIRCA 1989: Hubie Brooks #7 of the Montreal Expos reacts to a ground ball against the Chicago Cubs during a Major League Baseball game circa 1989 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Brooks played for the Expos from 1985-89. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hubie Brooks is our 3rd entry in our continuing series chronicling the upcoming 40-year anniversary of the 1986 ASG at the historic Astrodome.
Brooks would play 15 seasons in the majors, with his first All-Star Selection occurring for this very matchup.
Q: You had some amazing teams in Montreal, loaded with talent. What stood out to you about those teams?
A: It was something. Tim Wallach, Tim Raines, Andres Galarraga, Andre Dawson, Vance Law, I could go on and on. We had some great players.
The problem was at the time, the Mets were really good also (laughs) and in 1986 in particular, they ran away with things.
Q: You were on a tear during the opening half of the 1986 season. You were batting cleanup. You had 14 HR and 54 RBI. Did you enjoy batting cleanup?
A: I would do anything to win. So whatever capacity they could utilize me, thatâs what I was going to do. My job was to produce runs when guys were in scoring position. I was fortunate because it felt like Tim Raines and Andre Dawson were on base a bunch ahead of me. Thatâs why I had an opportunity.
Q: Letâs talk about July 15th at the Astrodome and the Mid-Summer Classic. What was that night like for you?
A: It was my first one and I just tried to soak it all in. I sat in my locker before the game and just observed and took it all in and all of those great players around me. You know what was crazy was at the time they had this guy running around (Barry Bremen) called âThe Great Imposterâ and he tried to crash the team photo.
Tommy Lasorda saw this and ran over to him and gave him the most profanity-laced tirade I had ever heard in my life (laughs). Youâll remember at the time, this guy was crashing events everywhere. Tommy gave him the riot act and he was removed from the field and taken away.
Q: So late that night, the National League begins mounting a comeback, you put up two runs in the 8th inning. You reached base. Did you feel you were going to come back and win that thing? The N.L. had a reputation at the time for dominating that event back in those days.
A: Yeah. 100%. I thought we were going to win. I really thought we could, and we had our chances but give them credit because they made more plays.
Q: The next year, youâd return to the All-Star Game, and your teammate Tim Raines would join you and be named MVP that night out in Oakland. Why do you think it took so long for Raines to be elected to Cooperstown?
A: I honestly donât know. I can remember that Andre Dawson, who is Timâs best friend, would always tell him to just be patient and that one day it would happen and then it happened. That was a great moment.
Texas Tech's Logan Hughes hustles after making contact against UC San Diego during a non-conference Division I baseball game, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at Dan Law Field. | Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Royals have not historically been a great organization at identifying and developing hitters with strong plate discipline. Since 2000, the Royals swing at more pitches out of the strike zone than any team and rank dead last in walk rate. Too often, the Royals have leaned toward toolsy hitters with athletic upside that come with swing-and-miss concerns, rather than prioritizing hitters whose value is anchored in strike-zone control, contact quality, and good swing decisions.
That may be changing under scouting director Brian Bridges. A common theme in the last two draft classes has been hitters who have a plan when they step up to the plate, with less of an emphasis on speed burners or guys with raw power.
The upcoming draft provides an opportunity for the Royals to improve their stock of hitters in the farm system with some players who can work the count and find a good pitch to hit. Here are some college hitters who may be available after round one that have exhibited some good plate discipline.
OF Logan Hughes, Texas Tech
Baseball America rank: #45
Hughes is a power hitter who has smashed 37 home runs over the last two seasons for the Red Raiders. He hit .375/.510/.735 with 18 home runs and 50 walks in 55 games this year, earning Baseball America second team All-American honors. They write he is a âpatient and selective hitter who does a nice job staying within the strike zoneâ with a âpenchant for putting the barrel on the ball even on the rare occasions when he does expand the zone.â Despite his prodigious power, he wasnât a swing-and-miss guy, with a terrific 12.2 percent strikeout rate in his career. Hughes doesnât offer a lot of size or athleticism, and will likely play in the corners, but he brings elite bat speed, a terrific hit tool and good eye to the plate.
OF Ty Head, North Carolina State
BA rank: #52
Head brings a great approach with solid tools as a left-handed hitter. His 88% overall contact rate and 91% in-zone contact rate put him among the better pure hitters in the class. He hit .291/.460/.556 with 57 walks and just 23 strikeouts in 56 games with the Wolfpack this year, and posted similar strikeout and walk numbers last year. There is some swing-and-miss risk in his timing and a tendency toward a âslapâ approach that can limit damage, but evaluators believe there is real hit-tool upside if the swing is refined. Head is a plus runner who could handle centerfield at the pro level, and he developed some decent power this year with 14 home runs.
OF Caden Bogenpohl, Missouri State
BA rank: #110
A native of the Cape Girardeau area, Bogenpohl is physically imposing at 6â5â, 245 lbs. His exit velocities were among the best at the MLB Draft Combine with Baseball America describing his batting practice as exhibiting 80-grade power. On the other hand, Bogenpohl hit just six home runs for the Bears, hitting .274/.427/.413 with 52 walks in 55 games and a higher groundball rate than youâd like for a guy with his profile. At the combine, he had a more upright stance with a âsimpler pre-swing loadâ so he could unlock more power with good instruction at the pro level. While he does walk, he can have issues with secondaries, and scouts wonder if his plate judgment will translate at the pro level.
OF, Brayden Dowd, Florida State
BA rank: #178
Dowd began his career at USC, but ended up at Florida State, hitting .293/.456/.527 with 51 walks in 51 games last year. Standing at just 5â10â, he is far from a toolsy hitters, but has a compact left-handed swing with excellent fastball recognition. Baseball America notes that against high velocity (93+ mph) pitches, he has a terrific 96% contact rate. He has some pop, smacking ten home runs last year, but scouts wonder if he will have any power with wood bats. He did struggle last summer in the wood bat Cape Cod League. The Michigan native has above-average speed, and may be able to stick in centerfield.
3B/OF, Brayden Martin, Maryland
BA rank: #225
Martin stands out for elite contact ability rather than loud offensive production. His contact rates are exceptional- 95.6% overall and 97.1% in the zone â and his approach is defined by extreme selectivity at the plate, including a very low swing rate. He struck out just 20 times in 286 plate appearances, while drawing 56 walks.
The question isnât whether he can put bat to ball, itâs whether the passivity and lack of impact contact limit his ceiling against better pitching. He hit just five home runs in three seasons with the Terrapins, and isnât likely to develop more pop on his small frame.
2B Joe Tiroly, Virginia
BA rank: #238
Tiroly is a polished college hitter whose value starts with his approach rather than his tools. The Virginia infielder consistently controls the strike zone with excellent swing decisions and strong bat-to-ball skills, rarely expanding the zone and projecting for an above-average on-base percentage. He hit .319/.408/.576 with 30 walks and low strikeout rate of 16 percent. He hit 16 home runs, but is more of a line-drive hitter who makes solid contact. Heâs a right-handed second baseman, a profile that isnât widely coveted, but if he can continue to hit, heâll make teams regret not choosing him.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander watches a play from the dugout during the second inning against the Athletics at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
A question for you to ponder on this fine morning in advance of the series finale: who is the most Mariner-like Marlin, and who is the most Marlin-like Mariner?
Emma Cortes Ellendt at Forbes went behind-the-scenes to learn more about the Marinersâ new influencer strategy.
Around the leagueâŠ
Veteran right-hander Justin Verlander announced that he will retire at the end of the season. Verlander was also just selected to the All-Star team as a âlegend pick.â
We have some new Home Run Derby participants, with the Royalsâ Jac Caglianone and the Red Soxâs Willson Contreras each announcing they will compete.
Former Mariners righty Gregory Santos has elected free agency. Santos has had a rough season between the majors and Triple-A in the Giants organization.
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