Riley does not seem concerned with what will be said about his program before the game.
UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava day-to-day with concussion ahead of Washington game
There’s a chance Nico Iamaleava could practice, but his status depends on how his treatment and testing goes, interim coach Tim Skipper said.
Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Daniss Jenkins seizing opportunity with Pistons
We’ve made it through Week 4 and are rapidly approaching the one-month mark of the 2025-26 NBA season.
Injuries have remained a topic of conversation, but they’ve led to some more opportunities for other players to navigate bigger roles. Some have led to fantasy basketball success, and others have not. Nonetheless, there is stuff to analyze. Let’s dig in.
The Spurs will be without Wemby for at least 2-3 weeks after he strained his left calf.
Raphielle Johnson→ Watch the NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC and Peacock: The Grizzlies take on the Spurs at 8pm ET, followed by the Suns at the Trail Blazers at 11 pm ET. Both games are available on Peacock. Check your local listings for the NBC game in your area.
STOCK UP
Daniss Jenkins — PG, Pistons
Everything is going right for the Pistons these days. Even with some recent injuries to key players, they’ve reeled off 10 straight wins and gotten production from players who many would least expect. Case in point: Daniss Jenkins. The second-year player out of St. John’s entered his sophomore season with all of seven career regular-season points and 23 minutes to his name. He doubled those scoring totals through the first four games of this season before abruptly posting averages of 21.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.5 three-pointers over the most recent four games. He’s started in place of the injured Cade Cunningham, but even when the superstar guard returns, it could be difficult to cut too much into Jenkins’ playing time.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker — PG/SG/SF/PF, Hawks
Here’s another player whose stock is on the rise; although this one is a bit less surprising, given what the Hawks offered to get him in the door this recent offseason. Enjoying a career-best season in a newer role, Alexander-Walker has hit the 20-point mark in three of the past five games and continues to post career-highs in assists. More opportunities have presented themselves in Trae Young’s extended absence (knee). Still, NAW has averaged 17.0 points per game in his five appearances this season alongside Young. If Alexander-Walker’s three-point shooting can start to come around, the breakout season will only get better for the two-way guard.
Moussa Diabate — C, Hornets
Diabate has found a home in Charlotte after a couple of forgettable seasons with the Clippers to begin his career. Now part of a young Hornets nucleus, he’s proven to be an important member of the nightly frontcourt rotation. Diabate has mostly come off the bench and attacked the glass hard — he’s recorded at least 10 boards in five of the last eight games while scoring in double figures in four of those five, consistently placing him on double-double alert. Diabate leads the Hornets in rebounding, and with his activity on defense, he could be a reliable streaming option or potentially a roster-worthy player in fantasy leagues if he can grow into an even larger role.
2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Top 200 Rankings: Wemby injured, Jalen Johnson providing value in Atlanta
The Hawks forward has exceeded the expectations of many fantasy managers this season, especially after Trae Young went down.
STOCK DOWN
John Collins — PF/C, Clippers
Not a lot has gone according to plan for the Clippers early in this season. Injuries to Kawhi Leonard (foot), Bradley Beal (hip), and, more recently, Derrick Jones (knee) have hurt them, but opened the door for guys like Collins to step into greater roles and potentially provide more production. Unfortunately, this has not been the case for Collins. Since moving into the starting lineup, he’s averaging 9.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 0.0 assists on 39.1 percent shooting. Perhaps his fit will be better once Leonard makes his way back to the floor. But until then, Collins is trending in the wrong direction at a time when all of his talent is needed in Los Angeles.
Zach LaVine — PG/SG/SF, Kings
After a strong start to the season in which LaVine had averaged 29.2 points and scored at least 30 points in four of the five games, he’s suddenly become a player whose production is difficult to predict, which isn’t dissimilar to the Kings’ other big-name players. LaVine has failed to make it out of single figures in scoring in two of the last five games and has only averaged 18.0 points per game in November. The interesting part here is that his shooting efficiency has remained high, but he has seen a big decrease in his attempts. It’s hard to get a feel for what exactly Sacramento is trying to do, as the team struggles to find solutions to end this current six-game losing streak. Regardless, this isn’t an ideal situation for those fantasy managers who have LaVine rostered.
Nikola Vučević — C, Bulls
The Bulls’ hot start was a fun early-season story. As they’ve cooled off, so too has Vucevic, whose numbers have dropped from 19.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game in October to a 13.4/8.8/3.3 line across November's eight contests. His 50.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc was always going to be unsustainable, but his 25.0 percent over the last three has led to some rough scoring outings. Can he regain his early-season form? There aren’t many backup center options behind him in the rotation that would eat away at his minutes. Still, it's fair to wonder what level of production the veteran can sustain. Stock down.
AP player of the week is No. 1 Purdue’s Trey Kaufman-Renn, who shined in true road win over Alabama
The senior forward had 19 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in his season debut, an 87-80 victory at then-No. 8 Alabama that catapulted the Boilermakers back to No. 1 in the AP Top 25. The senior from Sellersburg, Indiana, was just the third player in at least the last 30 years with at least 15 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a top-10 matchup. Kaufman-Renn followed up with 17 points and 15 rebounds in a 97-79 victory over Akron on Sunday.
Navy All-American Bowl’s Road to the Dome Digital Series to be Released November 19
The 2026 Navy All-American Bowl will continue the Road to the Dome tour on Wednesday, November 19th at 8 p.m.
SEC football must eliminate November cupcake games before it impacts CFP race
It's the third week of November, and the SEC is still feasting on cupcake games. Only now it could impact CFP race.
Auburn to sit QB Ashton Daniels against Mercer to preserve a year of eligibility
Interim coach D.J. Durkin said Jackson Arnold and freshman Deuce Knight will play against the Bears, but he did not name a starter.
Suns at Trail Blazers predictions: odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for November 18
The Phoenix Suns (8-6) head to the Moda Center to take on the Portland Trail Blazers (6-7) on NBC and Peacock at 11 PM Eastern.
Phoenix had its five-game winning streak snapped in a two-point loss on Sunday to Atlanta (124-122). The Suns started the season 0-4, then proceeded to win eight of the next 10 games.
Portland was the opposite. The Trail Blazers started the season hot with a 5-3 record, but have dropped four of the past five games with consecutive losses. After a five-game road trip, Portland is back at home where they are 3-2 and last beat the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a potential sweat or two! We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff. Odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to watch the Suns vs. Blazers live
- Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
- Time: 11 PM EST
- Site: Moda Center
- City: Portland, OR
- Network/Streaming: NBC/Peacock
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA 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!
Game odds for the Blazers at the Suns
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
- Moneyline: Suns (-142), Blazers (+120)
- Spread: Trail Blazers -2.5
- Total: 236.5
That gives the Trail Blazers an implied team point total of 119.5 and the Suns 117.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups for the Suns and the Trail Blazers
Suns
PG Devin Booker
SG Ryan Dunn
SF Dillon Brooks
PF Royce O’Neale
C Mark Williams
Trail Blazers
PG Shaedon Sharpe
SG Toumani Camara
SF Jerami Grant
PF Deni Avdija
C Donovan Clingan
Injuries for the Trail Blazers and the Suns
Trail Blazers
G Scoot Henderson (hamstring) is OUT for Tuesday's game
G Jrue Holiday (calf) is doubtful for Tuesday's game
Suns
G Grayson Allen (quadriceps) is OUT for Tuesday
Important stats, trends and insights ahead of Suns at Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
- Portland is 0-5 ATS in the last five games
- Portland is 6-7 ATS overall this season
- Portland is 0-1 ATS as a home favorite
- Phoenix is 4-2 ATS in the last six games
- Phoenix is 1-4 ATS as a road underdog, ranking 2nd-worst
- Phoenix is 9-5 ATS, ranking tied 7th
- Portland is 10-3 to the Over, ranking second
- Phoenix is 6-6 to the Over, ranking tied 6th-worst
Rotoworld Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Suns as a live-bet:
"Portland is on a 0-5 ATS streak as the market started to over rate this team. Phoenix on the other hand is 4-2 ATS in the past six games and climbed above .500 with an 8-6 record. My pre-tip pick for this would be the Suns, but there would be live betting opportunities to get a better number than the +2.5 or +3's being offered."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Trail Blazers & Suns game:
- Moneyline: Suns ML (high confidence)
- Spread: Suns +5.5 (low confidence)
- Total: Under 236.5 (low confidence)
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
No. 18 Michigan expects to be without injured RB Justice Haynes vs. Maryland and No. 1 Ohio State
Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore said Justice Haynes probably is out for the regular season.
Dodgers need an outfielder. Cody Bellinger is a free agent. Could a reunion be possible?
The Dodgers need an outfielder. Cody Bellinger is available.
So, eight years removed from his Rookie of the Year arrival, six years since his 2019 MVP campaign, and three years after an unceremonious end to his Dodgers tenure, could the team and its once-beloved homegrown slugger actually reunite this winter?
It’s not impossible, with the Dodgers believed to have Bellinger on their radar as they evaluate their options in free agency.
In an offseason of wide possibilities, but thus far tempered expectations from the Dodgers’ front office, Bellinger represents something of a wild card in the team’s potential winter plans.
Read more:Why Dodgers are already thinking about endurance test that awaits in 2026 three-peat bid
He is not the top outfielder on this year’s market, which is headlined by former Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Tucker and the $400 million-plus bidding war he is expected to trigger.
But, for a team like the Dodgers, Bellinger could be a better (and more familiar) fit, providing the kind of positional versatility and financial flexibility someone like Tucker wouldn’t.
Granted, the seriousness of the Dodgers’ interest in Bellinger, which was first reported by ESPN, remains unclear. But the mere possibility will make it one of the more intriguing early subplots of the winter, representing one potentially splashier option for the club to consider in pursuit of 2026 roster upgrades.
To this point of the offseason, of course, the Dodgers have signaled a reluctance to add more lucrative, long-term, free-agent contracts to their steadily aging core. It’s shown up in their pursuit of relievers, with their preference seemingly being a shorter-term deal after being burned by big bullpen spending last year. It has also influenced the way they’ve viewed the outfield market, cooling summer-long expectations that they would be leading contenders in the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes.
After all, the Dodgers have two starting outfielders currently on their roster in Teoscar Hernández (who is entering the second of his three-year, $66 million deal) and Andy Pages (who is coming off a 27-homer campaign in his second MLB season). They have plenty of depth options at the position, from Alex Call to Ryan Ward to the versatility provided by utility players Tommy Edman and Hyeseong Kim (and maybe even backup catcher Dalton Rushing, who could experiment in the outfield again in 2026).
They also, importantly, have a promising wave of outfield prospects expected to reach the majors in the next 2-3 years, a group headlined by Josue De Paula (the top prospect in their farm system); Eduardo Quintero (their 2025 minor-league hitter of the year); Zyhir Hope, Mike Sirota, James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard (promising talents acquired in trades over the last two years); and Charles Davalan and Kendall George (recent first-round draft picks).
The team would still like to add another outfielder, likely of the left-handed-hitting variety, to the mix in 2026. It is hopeful of finding an improved replacement for Michael Conforto, after his woeful performance on a one-year, $17 million deal last season.
At the same time, though, the Dodgers want to preserve their longer-term flexibility at the position — making their odds of giving someone like Tucker the 10-year contract he is expected to receive appear dubious at best.
Bellinger, however, provides a different free-agent proposition.
He is a couple of years older than Tucker, set to turn 31 next season, but is also likely to receive a contract of roughly half the length and much less guaranteed money; pegged by most projections to be in the 5-6 year and $150-$175 million range (though he could reasonably surpass those figures if his market materializes well).
Crucially, Bellinger also offers positional flexibility. At present, he can play all three outfield spots, and remains a plus-defender in the corners. Down the line, he could eventually shift to first base, making him (for a team like the Dodgers) a potential future successor to Freddie Freeman.
Another key factor: Bellinger is a much different player than he was when the Dodgers declined to tender him a contract at the end of the 2022 season.
Back then, Bellinger was coming off two straight years of subpar performance in the wake of a shoulder surgery following the 2020 World Series. Between 2021 and 2022, he hit .193, struck out more than 27% of the time, and had an OPS+ of 66 (an advanced metric in which 100 is considered league average).
The last three years, on the other hand, have seen the former MVP winner stage a mid-career revival. While playing for the Chicago Cubs (who signed Bellinger ahead of the 2023 season) and New York Yankees (who traded for him last offseason), he hit .281, struck out just 15% of the time, and had an OPS+ of 125. Last season, he also hit 29 home runs, his most since collecting 47 in his 2019 MVP season.
Granted, Bellinger did benefit from the hitter-friendly environment at Yankee Stadium, where he had 18 of his long balls last year. He also does not hit the ball as routinely hard as in his peak years with the Dodgers. Yet, he has improved his approach, honed more consistent swing mechanics, and balanced out his platoon splits, batting .353 against left-handed pitching in 2025.
Those strides served as a reminder of Bellinger’s tantalizing talent, as well as a sign of his growing maturation as he enters his 10th year in the majors.
The question now: Whether it will all be enough for the Dodgers to make a legitimate run at bringing him back.
Read more:Shohei Ohtani wins fourth MVP award, joining Barry Bonds as only player with more than three
The nature of free agency, of course, means Bellinger is still likely to land elsewhere this winter. He is expected to field wide interest on the open market, starting with the incumbent Yankees (especially if their other free-agent outfielder, Trent Grisham, turns down a qualifying offer). The Dodgers, meanwhile, remain better positioned to explore the trade market for an outfield addition, possessing the kind of highly-rated farm system that could make them a factor for everyone from Steven Kwan to Brandon Donovan to Jarren Duran.
If Bellinger were to attract his own bidding war, the Dodgers would likely be reluctant to overpay (at least in their view) for his services.
But for now, the possibility of a reunion does at least seemingly exist — thanks to Bellinger’s versatile fit, recent resurgence and lingering familiarity with the franchise.
Years removed from his breakout, then flame-out, during his first tenure with the Dodgers, he could wind up in their winter plans again this offseason.
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Grizzlies at Spurs predictions: odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for November 18
The San Antonio Spurs (9-4) and Memphis Grizzlies (4-10) meet at 8 PM Eastern on NBC and Peacock! The storyline of this game is can the Spurs continue their winning ways against the bottom of the league without Victor Wembanyama or can the Grizzlies snap their four-game losing streak and get a much-need win on national TV without Ja Morant?
San Antonio enters led by De'Aaron Fox who will have more on his plate tonight without super star Victor Wembanyama, plus young up and coming guards, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle. The Spurs beat the Kings, 123-110, without Wemby in their previous game after losing two straight to the Warriors.
The Spurs have been a streaky team this year, putting together two winning streaks of five and three games, plus two losing streaks of two games apiece. Let's see if San Antonio can put together another winning streak as home favorites on primetime.
Memphis is on a four-game losing streak and dropped eight of the past nine as they enter this contest. Not much has gone right and with Ja Morant out, Memphis will rely on Jaren Jackson Jr and a plethora of role players. The Grizzlies have one win against a team with a winning record this year and six of the Spurs' nine games have come against teams with losing records.
Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a potential sweat or two! We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff. Odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to watch the Grizzlies vs. Spurs live
- Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
- Time: 8 PM EST
- Site: Frost Bank Center
- City: San Antonio, TX
- Network/Streaming: NBC/Peacock
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA 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!
Game odds for the Grizzlies at the Spurs
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
- Moneyline: Spurs (-230), Grizzlies (+190)
- Spread: Spurs -5.5
- Total: 233.5
That gives the Spurs an implied team point total of 119.5 and the Grizzlies 113.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups for the Grizzlies and the Spurs
Grizzlies
PG Cam Spencer
SG Jaylen Wells
SF Cedric Coward
PF Jaren Jackson
C Zach Edey
Spurs
PG De'Aaron Fox
SG Devin Vassell
SF Julian Champagnie
PF Harrison Barnes
C Luke Kornet
Injuries for the Grizzlies and the Spurs
Grizzlies
F Ja Morant (right calf strain) is OUT for Monday’s game
G Ty Jerome (calf) is OUT for Tuesday's game
F Brandon Clarke (knee) is OUT for Tuesday's game
Spurs
C Victor Wembanyama (calf) is OUT for Tuesday's matchup
G Stephon Castle (hip) is OUT for Tuesday's matchup
G Dylan Harper (hip) is OUT for Tuesday's game
G Jordan McLaughlin (hamstring) is OUT for Tuesday's game
Important stats, trends and insights ahead of Grizzlies at Spurs on Tuesday.
- Memphis is 4-10 ATS, ranking second-worst
- Memphis is 1-4 ATS as a road underdog, ranking tied second-worst
- Memphis is 9-5 to the Under, tied for first
- San Antonio is 5-6-2 ATS
- San Antonio is 3-6-2 ATS as a favorite and 3-3-1 ATS as a home favorite
- San Antonio is 7-6 to the Over
Rotoworld Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Grizzlies to cover the first half:
“Memphis has been abysmal in the full game ATS (4-10), ranking second-worst, but they have been a better first half team at 6-8 ATS on the season. The Grizzlies are getting +3.5 against a Spurs team that is without VictorWembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper. It's hard to imagine on primetime, Memphis doesn't hang at least for a half with this Spurs team.
Memphis is 3-2 ATS in the last five first halves compared to 1-4 in the full game. The Grizzlies are also 1-9 ATS in the last 10 games overall, so I do lean that way tonight as positive regression should set in, but I'll stick with the first half +3.5 down to +2.5 and live bet if need be."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Grizzlies & Spurs game:
- Moneyline: Grizzlies ML (low confidence)
- Spread: Grizzlies +5.5 (medium confidence)
- Total: Under 232.5 (low confidence)
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
Mets have interest in signing Devin Williams: report
As the Mets reshape their bullpen this offseason, they have interest in signing Devin Williams, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Passan notes that the Mets are "mulling the opportunity" to sign both Williams and Edwin Diaz, who is expected to reject the team's one-year qualifying offer ahead of Tuesday's deadline.
In addition to the Mets, reports have linked Williams to the Dodgers and Blue Jays.
Williams, 31, had a down year for the Yankees in 2025 after being acquired from the Brewers in an offseason trade.
Over 62.0 innings spanning 67 appearances, Williams -- who bounced in and out of the closer's role due to his inconsistencies -- had a 4.79 ERA and 1.12 WHIP while striking out 90 batters.
But there are reasons to believe Williams' relatively poor season was an aberration.
For one, his 2.68 FIP was in line with his career FIP of 2.45 -- suggesting he was unusually unlucky on balls that were put in play.
Meanwhile, his walk rate (3.6 per nine) was down, his home run rate (0.7 per nine) was around his career average, his ability to miss bats was among the best in baseball, and his famous "airbender" changeup again graded out as one of the best pitches in the sport.
The Mets have lots of work to do this offseason when it comes to putting the bullpen together.
Aside from A.J. Minter (who exercised his player option for 2026) and Brooks Raley (whose club option for 2026 was picked up on Tuesday) there are no 2025 bullpen members who are a lock to be back. And Minter's start to the season will likely be delayed by a few weeks as he works his way back from the lat surgery that ended his 2025 campaign.
Trade deadline acquisitions Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, and Gregory Soto are all free agents.
Members of the Mets' 40-man roster who could be relief options next season include Huascar Brazoban (who is arbitration-eligible), Jonathan Pintaro, and Dylan Ross.
Reed Garrett, who has been a mainstay the last two seasons, is expected to miss the entire 2026 season due to Tommy John surgery.
Resetting the Red Sox' infield after trade for Rays' Tristan Gray
Resetting the Red Sox' infield after trade for Rays' Tristan Gray originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Red Sox added an infielder Tuesday. No, his name isn’t Pete Alonso.
The Red Sox acquired Tristan Gray from the Rays in a trade that sent minor-league pitcher Luis Guerrero to Tampa Bay. Boston designed first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for assignment to make room for Gray on the 40-man roster.
Gray isn’t exactly a household name — he’s spent time with four teams over the last two years since making his major league debut in 2023. The 29-year-old appeared in 30 games for the Rays last season, however, posting a .231 batting average with a .693 OPS to go along with three home runs, nine RBI and five doubles.
Gray has positional versatility, as well: He made nine starts at second base, seven starts at shortstop, three starts at second base and one start at first base last season. At the moment, he projects as an infield depth option who can make the occasional spot start if needed.
That begs the question: What could Boston’s starting infield look like in 2026? The answer is complicated, as the Red Sox are rumored to be interested in several prominent infield free agents while awaiting the decision of starting third baseman Alex Bregman.
Here’s a position-by-position rundown of Boston’s infield:
First base
- Current depth chart: Triston Casas, Romy Gonzalez
- Potential free-agent targets: Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, Munetaka Murakami, Kazuma Okamoto
You’d have to think the Red Sox will add a power-hitting first baseman this offseason, especially after DFA’ing Lowe. Casas has All-Star potential when healthy but has played just 92 games total over the past two seasons.
It appears Boston is already testing the first-base waters; MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported the Red Sox are the “strongest contender” for Alonso if he doesn’t re-sign with the New York Mets, while adding that Craig Breslow and Co. have “checked in” on Schwarber.
Murakami and Okamoto are two of the best hitters in Japan who are both coming stateside this winter. Both are third basemen but can play first base, so perhaps the Red Sox would explore adding them as well.
Second base
- Current depth chart: Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell, Romy Gonzalez, David Hamilton, Tyler Sogard, Tristan Gray
- Potential free-agent targets: Bo Bichette
Here’s where things get complicated.
If Alex Bregman re-signs in Boston after opting out of his contract, Mayer likely would be the starting second baseman, with Bregman playing third and Trevor Story at shortstop. If Bregman signs elsewhere, Mayer likely would slide to third, where he played 39 games last season.
Campbell was Boston’s opening day starter in 2025 but was in the minors by June. If the Red Sox believe he’s ready for the big leagues, he could get first crack at second base in the Mayer-at-third-base scenario. If not, perhaps they’d look to free agency; Audacy’s Rob Bradford reports the Red Sox have interest in Bo Bichette, who is primarily a shortstop but played second base during the World Series.
Ceddanne Rafaela also had a brief stint at second base last season but just won a Gold Glove in center field, so the Red Sox would be wise to keep him there.
Shortstop
- Current depth chart: Trevor Story, Marcelo Mayer, David Hamilton, Romy Gonzalez, Tristan Gray
- Potential free-agent targets: Bo Bichette
Story opting in to stay in Boston solves at least one piece of the infield puzzle. But if Bregman signs elsewhere and the Red Sox want to get creative, they could sign Bichette to play shortstop, move Story to second base and start Mayer at third base.
Even if Bregman returns, Boston could benefit from having an extra starting-caliber infielder in the mix, as the team was very thin at first base last season following Casas’ injury.
Third base
- Current depth chart: Marcelo Mayer, Nate Eaton, Romy Gonzalez, Tristan Gray
- Potential free-agent targets: Alex Bregman, Munetaka Murakami, Kazuma Okamoto
As stated above, this comes down to whether Bregman re-signs with Boston or seeks greener pastures. The latter scenario might motivate the Red Sox to pursue either Murakami or Okamoto to bolster the corner of the infield. But Mayer figures to be the incumbent — assuming he can stay healthy.
Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer Takes On Miro Heiskanen After Battling Cale Makar
On Sunday night, New York Islanders. No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer went head-to-head with the NHL’s best defenseman, Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar.
Sharing the ice for 5:38 minutes in a 4-1 loss, the Islanders held the Avalanche to just two shots on gaol, with Schaefer playing a huge role in that.
Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, is someone that Schaefer name-dropped as a comparison back when we spoke to the 18-year-old at the 2025 NHL Combine.
Schaefer also dropped another name, a defenseman who he will be going up against on Tuesday night.
"I like watching Cale Makar & Miro Heiskanen, two great guys with great hockey sense and great skating ability,” Schaefer said back in Buffalo.
There were signs early on that #Isles No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer had some #GoAvsGo Cale Makar in him.
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) November 16, 2025
The two face each other for the first time tonight.
My convo with Jonathan Drouin, who played with Makar last year & Schaefer now @TheElmontershttps://t.co/SDONtqutb6
Miro Heiskanen, drafted by the Dallas Stars with the third pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, is one of the premier offensive-defensemen the NHL has to offer.
Through 19 games, Heiskanen has three goals with 14 assists for 17 points, averaging 25:18 minutes per game.
Through 19 games, Schaefer has seven goals, with eight assists for 15 points, averaging 22:24 minutes per game.
The Stars have been a Stanley Cup contender for the last few seasons, and Heiskanen has been a major reason why.
Schaefer will be the main reason why the Islanders get back to that status when they do.
After battling Heiskanen and the Stars, Schaefer goes on to battle another elite defenseman, Mo Seider, and the Detroit Red Wings to conclude the Islanders’ seven-game winning streak.
Puck drop between the Islanders and Stars comes your way at 8 PM ET on MSGSN2.
How to watch Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight's game
Head to Peacock for tonight's thrilling Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA doubleheader. The action starts at 8:00 PM ET when the Memphis Grizzlies take on the San Antonio Spurs. Then, at 11:00 PM, the Phoenix Suns go head-to-head with the Portland Trail Blazers. Live coverage tonight begins at 7:30 PM. See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's game and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Click here to sign up for Peacock!
Memphis Grizzlies:
The Grizzlies have lost eight of their last nine games, including the last four straight matchups. Saturday's 108-100 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers delivered an additional blow as Ja Morant left early in the first quarter with a right calf strain. The team announced later on Monday that he is expected to be out for at least two weeks.
Zach Edey's return was one bright spot for the Grizzlies. The second-year center had 13 points and 7 rebounds in his season debut, after undergoing ankle surgery in June.
However, the team is still struggling without its key players.
The Grizzlies announced on Nov. 11 that Brandon Clarke is expected to return from his right knee injury in 6 to 9 weeks. Ty Jerome has yet to play this season since sustaining a right calf injury in the preseason.
San Antonio Spurs:
The Spurs, currently 9-4, are off to their best start since the 2016-2017 season, after defeating the Sacramento Kings 123-110 on Sunday. De'Aron Fox led the team with 28 points and 11 assists. The 2023 All-Star is averaging 22 points per game so far this season, despite missing the first eight games with a right hamstring injury.
Victor Wembanyama did not play on Sunday and is expected to be out for the next two to three weeks after suffering a left calf strain in Friday's loss against Golden State.
Second-year guard Stephon Castle will also be out tonight after sustaining a left hip injury in Sunday's win.
Vaughn Dalzell breaks down the NBA’s MVP race as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stands firm at No. 1.
Vaughn DalzellHow to watch Memphis Grizzlies vs San Antonio Spurs:
- When: Tonight, Tuesday, November 18
- Where: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas
- Time: 8:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: NBC
- Live Stream:Peacock
What other NBA games are on NBC and Peacock tonight?
How to watch Phoenix Suns vs Portland Trail Blazers:
- When: Tonight, Tuesday, November 18
- Where: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
- Time: 11:00 PM ET
- Live Stream:Peacock
2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Top 200 Rankings: Wemby injured, Jalen Johnson providing value in Atlanta
The Hawks forward has exceeded the expectations of many fantasy managers this season, especially after Trae Young went down.
How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
Peacock ScoreCard: Grizzlies vs Spurs
Peacock ScoreCard turns the NBA into an interactive experience. Pick from a selection of premade cards based on what you think will happen during the game. Earn leaderboard points and see how you rank against other viewers in real-time. Click here to get started.
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NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
What devices does Peacock support?
You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.