MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 20: Freddy Peralta #51 of the New York Mets throws a pitch in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on July 20, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mets lineup
A.J. Ewing – CF Francisco Lindor – SS Bo Bichette – 3B Carson Benge – RF Jorge Polanco – DH Jared Young – 1B Tyrone Taylor – LF Brett Baty – 2B Luis Torrens – C
SP: Freddy Peralta – RHP
Dodgers lineup
Shohei Ohtani – DH Andy Pages – CF Freddie Freeman – 1B Max Muncy – 3B Mookie Betts – SS Tommy Edman – 2B Kyle Tucker – RF Teoscar Hernandez – LF Eliezer Alfonzo – C
SP: Emmet Sheehan – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:40 PM EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 19: Patrick Ewing and Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 19, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Last night was a typical Saturday night for me — playing Hades 2 for the 1300th time, catching up on X-Men ‘97, perusing basketball-reference.com — when I came across a couple of facts I feel compelled to share. Why? Because Vox pays based on a monthly quota and I woke up two articles short for July.
PATRICK EWING & THE 2026-27 KNICKS: BOTH UNDERRATED
In 1989 Patrick Ewing finished fourth in MVP voting, first among the six centers to receive votes (Hakeem Olajuwon, Brad Daugherty, Robert Parish, Mark Eaton and Moses Malone). A year later the Big Fella again led all pivots in MVP voting. Over a nine-year stretch (1989-1997) that included six different starting point guards, six different head coaches and a dizzying number of playing styles, Ewing received the most- or second-most MVP votes for a center six times. That’s not projection. That’s what happened.
There’s an awful lot of projection happening in this summer’s NBA talk. The national media and fans of loser teams, no doubt buttressed by Adam Silver’s specious praise of parity, seem oddly certain the New York Knicks will extend the pratfall of the prior seven champions by failing to repeat in 2027. Given that the Knicks just put forth the greatest display of ass-whupping the Association has ever seen and are returning 90-something percent of those responsible for said rump-reddening, I assume the cynics are indebted less to “what happened” than to precedent.
Balderdash.
Forgive my language, but I’m just that upset. The great sportswriter Law Murray may be the only person currently with a power rankings that lists New York at the top. Power rankings don’t matter, natch; they are at best one person’s opinion. But why are so many people’s opinions wrong? Look how all the recent failures to repeat failed and tell me where it sounds like the Knicks.
Jalen Brunson didn’t depart for the Clippers, desiring a max deal plus a do-nothing $28 million off-the-books cheat code. The Knicks didn’t win some asterisk-stained Bubble ‘chip. Josh Hart is their only starter over 30; after the Bucks’ title, their non-Greek starters turned 30, 31, 33 and 36. When the Warriors won their fourth, Steph Curry was 33, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green 31.
The Nuggets have spent literally zero dollars since winning it all three years ago (I can only hope the same happens with Arsenal, also owned by the Crankies). The Celtics have dropped consecutive series to their two most-hated Eastern rivals (losing five of seven home playoff games); seen one cornerstone tear his Achilles before racing back in record time the next year, only to finish it injured; then traded the other to one of those hated rivals for less than what Dallas got back for Luka. The Thunder, who succeeded Boston as the media’s “Not only did they win a title, they’re destined to for years” darling, got bit by the injury bug at the worst possible time last year, then traded three rotation players for second-round picks.
I’m a big fan of precedent myself. But I’m always learning that it’s not destiny, more just a useful guide for getting around. The fact that Daugherty, Parish, Malone and Eaton soon faded from MVP votes didn’t mean Ewing would. So long as the Mitchell Robinson cheap-out isn’t the first sign of James Dolan suffering a Nuggets/Celtics ownership mind-meld, the Knicks seem a pretty good bet to be the first repeat champs since 2018.
REGGIE MILLER SUCKS
He’s an insufferable broadcaster, not even the best baller in his family and a homewrecker. None of that is what’s worst about Reggie Miller, though.
Miller was never afraid to take the big shot. It’s why he has, at minimum, a half-dozen career highlights where any one would be most players’ best-remembered. I’ll spare you the two you’re likely aware of, but did you know both Chicago and New Jersey also served as the canvas to his artistry? If you’re troubled by me sharing these here at P&T, I understand. My only defense is these shots caused the MJ Bulls and Jason Kidd Nets to suffer, and in my teens and 20s I hated those teams as much as any.
Whatever truth is contained in those two videos, it is a vile truth, loud and clanging; the empty can rattles the most. Yes, Miller wasn’t afraid of the moment. But is it admirable for one to always be willing step up in the biggest of moments if one misses the vast, vast share of them? Imagine the ‘90s Knicks having every postseason come down to John Starks emptying the clip and letting the chips fall where they may. “John Starks?” you may say. “Are we really comparing John Starks to Reggie Miller?”
Reader, yes.
I want to show you Miller’s numbers in the biggest games he played in. For the purposes of fairness, I’m excluding earlier years in his career, when the Pacers were still a work-in-progress. Miller wasn’t the focal point of the Pacers’ offense in the early ‘90s against the Celtics — that’d be Chuck Person — so I didn’t include his 7-of-17 shooting in their 1991 series finale. Instead, let’s go right to the alleged heart of the matter. How did Miller shoot when he was supposedly making his bones in the six biggest games of his career: the 1994 ECF against New York, 1995 ECF against Orlando, 1998 ECF against Chicago, 1999 ECF vs. New York, 2000 Finals against Los Angeles and the 2004 ECF against Detroit?
7-of-17
5-of-13
7-of-13
3-of-18 (See? Starks-like!)
8-of-19
2-of-8
That’s 32-of-88 from the field (36%), which is . . . not good. And 14-of-43 from distance (33%). Greg Anthony shot 40% overall and 35% from deep for his career. So, in the moments Mr. Big Moment was supposedly his most Big Moment-able, Miller wasn’t even a valid role model for Cole growing up.
Last season, the Brooklyn Nets let 22 different people take the wheel of their lottery tank, several of whom probably weren’t actual professional basketball players (“Grant Nelson”? Please). Not a one of the 22 combined to shoot as badly from the field and from three as Miller did in his six biggest games.
The larger lesson here? I guess don’t be a dick who trades on a rep you know you don’t deserve. Being willing to take big shots is cool, especially if you make some. But being willing to try isn’t heroic when you so often fail. Miller will go down as history’s Antoine Walker, a shameless chucker who never saw reason to stop. Unlike ‘Toine, who faded from the spotlight, Miller insists upon himself, insists on foisting that self on us. Not much we can do about it, besides educate ourselves and stay ready. You never know when the day will come that you get the chance to speak truth to power.
Jul 20, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Athletics pitcher Jeffrey Springs (59) throws in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images | Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
The A’s may have dropped yesterday’s contest but thanks to their win on Friday night they have a chance to secure their first series win since almost two months. Will they be able to finish off the Twins and escape Minnesota with a pair of wins?
Before we get to the game, we got some bad news to deliver. It looks like the A’s may be without their All-Star catcher for the rest of the year as Shea Langeliers landed on the IL this morning with a torn meniscus in his right knee:
The A’s have placed C Shea Langeliers on the 10-day injured list with a torn meniscus in his right knee (retroactive to July 25) and recalled C Brian Serven from Triple-A Las Vegas.
It’s yet another blow in the health department for an A’s squad that has been ravaged by injuries the past couple of months. After being relatively healthy for the first couple weeks of the year the A’s have had to weather a massive storm of injuries that have helped sink their postseason chances this year, and now our best player is the latest to land on the shelf.
If Langeliers really is done for the year then that likely takes him off the trade market, with an offseason move more likely. For the A’s the rest of the year though they’ll have to try to stay respectable without their best player for the last two months of the year. It’s expected that Jonah Heim will take up regular catching duties the rest of the way, with the just-recalled veteran Brian Serven serving as his backup. A potential audition for a starting role next year, perhaps? Heim’s in there behind home plate today.
Anyway, we got a game this morning. The Athletics will send left-hander Jeffrey Springs to the bump looking to secure the series win. The 33-year-old has had a rough season to date but he managed to put up a solid performance in his first start after the All-Star Break. This could be one of his final starts for the Green & Gold before the trade deadline so a big outing today could boost the prospect cost to acquire his services the rest of the way.
As expected it’s Jonah Heim behind the plate catching Springs this morning. He’s hitting in the heart of the lineup, batting third behind Jacob Wilson (today’s DH) and first baseman Nick Kurtz, who is only in his second game since returning from the IL. Tyler Soderstrom is behind him in the batting order hitting cleanup.
And then it’s mostly rookies in the rest of the lineup outside veteran infielder Jeff McNeil, today’s second baseman. Now is the time of the year for these young guys to make a claim to a spot on next year’s roster. Will someone like Tommy White or Colby Thomas make an impression over the final couple months?
That lineup will be facing their own left-hander in Twins rookie lefty Connor Prielipp. The 25-year-old isn’t considered a big-time prospect for the Twins but he’s held his own in his first taste of the big leagues, outside of a few meltdown performances that has skewed his ERA, which stands at an even 5.00 through his first 13 starts. He was actually just activated off the injured list this morning from a blister on his pitching hand. Which version of Prielipp will show up against the A’s today?
The Buffalo Sabres delivered Stanley Cup playoff hockey to their long-suffering fans this year, ending a decade-and-a-half playoff drought. But while the Sabres didn’t make the Eastern Conference final – losing to the Montreal Canadiens in Round 2 – Buffalo beat the Boston Bruins in Round 1, gaining valuable experience in the process.
But in our annual grading of the Sabres, TheHockeyNews.com’s 2025-26 grades will mostly be positive, as there was plenty for Sabres fans to appreciate. Whether it was young players evolving into Grade-A talent, or veterans delivering big-time performances, Buffalo got important contributions from many, if not most players. And that’s reflected in their grades.
The Sabres have a ways to go before they’re a legitimate Cup front-runner like last year’s eventual-champion Carolina Hurricanes. However, for the first time in many years, everything meshed positively for Buffalo, and the Sabres elevated their playoff game to beat Boston.
And in this “Sabres Grades” file, we’re grading Buffalo’s best defenseman – superstar D-man and team captain Rasmus Dahlin:
Rasmus Dahlin
Position: Defenseman
Grade: A+
The Skinny: It’s hard to imagine how Dahlin could’ve been better for Buffalo last season. Dahlin posted 55 assists and a career-best 74 points in 77 games in 2025-26, and he averaged 24:10 of ice time. Those numbers are almost identical to Dahlin’s performance in 2024-25, when he generated 51 assists and 68 points in 73 games while averaging 24:14 of ice time. The consistency there is to marvel at.
However, Dahlin also set a career-high in shooting percentage this past season, averaging 9.8 percent to beat his previous career-high of 8.5 percent. At 26 years old, the Swedish blueliner is entering his prime, and he’s doing so while earning $11-million for the next six seasons.
A salary that high carries with it sky-high expectations, but nobody in Buffalo is begrudging Dahlin his money. In fact, as the salary cap goes up and we see defensemen earn into the $16-to-$18-million-per-year range, Dahlin’s contract is going to be seen as a massive bargain for the Sabres.
There are precious few legitimate No. 1 defensemen in the league, but Dahlin certainly is one of them. Dahlin got his first taste of playoff hockey last season, and with 10 assists and 14 points – including six power-play points – in 13 games, Dahlin was a point-per-game post-season player. That’s exactly the type of performance Buffalo needed to get from him.
As Dahlin's game continues maturing, his playoff experience last year is only going to help him and the Sabres. If Buffalo had’ve careened through the Atlantic Division rankings and missed the 2025-26 playoffs, we'd be having a very different conversation about Dahlin’s future in Western New York. But winning cures a lot of ailments, and it now looks like the best road ahead for Dahlin is remaining in Buffalo and serving as the Sabres’ bedrock for this generation of the team.
Dahlin’s poise and patience are two of the things that led him to earning a nomination this past year for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman. Columbus Blue Jackets superstar blueliner Zach Werenski wound up winning this year’s Norris, but Dahlin deserved his nomination for the honor. And it now feels like, sooner or later, Dahlin is going to be claiming his first of what could be multiple Norris Trophies.
Although there may be room for Dahlin to grow his game, we’re of the opinion he's already firing on all pistons. Dahlin’s vision, two-way game and overall impact on the Sabres is hard to measure strictly in data sets. When he’s on the ice, good things happen, and Dahlin’s challenge now is to raise his game when games matter most.
He can’t get a higher grade than the grade we’re giving him this year, but multiple A+ grades certainly aren’t out of the question for Dahlin. He’s a no-brainer foundational talent for Buffalo, and the Sabres are likely only going as far in the next decade as Dahlin and the rest of Buffalo’s core carries them.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Veteran pitcher Lance McCullers has been designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers less than two weeks after they acquired the right-hander from the Houston Astros.
The Brewers announced the move before their game Sunday against the Colorado Rockies. They recalled right-handed pitcher Garrett Stallings from Triple-A Nashville.
The moves come a day after McCullers walked four batters in 1 2/3 innings of relief in an 8-5 victory over the Rockies. McCullers entered with Milwaukee ahead 8-2 in the eighth inning and returned for the ninth, but he allowed a hit and two walks in that inning before Trevor Megill came in to get the final out.
McCullers went 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two relief appearances with Milwaukee. He struck out five, walked five and allowed five runs (three earned) over 4 2/3 innings.
The bullpen role was new for McCullers, who had started in 148 of his 154 career outings with Houston.
McCullers, 32, had spent his entire major league career with the Astros until they sent him and left-hander Colton Gordon to the Brewers for minor league outfielder Jadyn Fielder on July 15. Houston had agreed to pay Milwaukee $4,227,273 to offset most of McCullers’ remaining salary, leaving his cost to the Brewers at $2.5 million.
McCullers was on the injured list with shoulder inflammation at the time of the trade and last pitched for the Astros on May 13. He went 2-3 with a 6.86 ERA in eight starts for Houston this season.
He began his MLB career in 2015 and owns a 53-40 record with a 3.85 ERA. McCullers was part of Houston’s 2017 and 2022 World Series champions, but injuries kept him from pitching in 2019, 2023 and 2024.
Stallings pitched three scoreless innings in two appearances during an earlier stint with Milwaukee this season. He has gone 3-3 with a 4.11 ERA for Nashville in 18 appearances, including 13 starts.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 20: Andrew Abbott #41 of the Cincinnati Reds throws to first base in the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on July 20, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Ng/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hunter Greene couldn’t keep the St. Louis Cardinals offense in check on Saturday and the Cincinnati Reds offense was completely befuddled by righty Andre Pallante in the Reds 7-0 loss. That means the Sunday rubber match will determine who gets to claim victory in this particular NL Central series.
The Reds have won each of their series so far on this 9-game, 3-city road trip to begin their season’s second half, and a win today would send them back to Cincinnati with a 6-3 overall run on it. Where that leaves them in terms of positioning remains to be seen with the August 3rd trade deadline looming, but as of right now they sit just 48-55 and 6 full games out of the final NL Wild Card spot.
Andrew Abbott will toe the rubber for the Reds in the Sunday matinee opposite Cardinals starter Kyle Leahy, with first pitch slated for 2:15 PM ET.
Here’s how both clubs will line up to begin things:
Aziz Abdul faces England’s Damar Thomas in Glasgow
‘I will be the baddest man in the Commonwealth’
Damar Thomas, the English super-heavyweight, must overcome the grandson of Idi Amin, the former Ugandan dictator and self-proclaimed “King of Scotland”, if he is to progress into the medal rounds of Commonwealth Games boxing competition in Glasgow on Wednesday.
Aziz Abdul, known as “Ringo”, is not shy of his family connection to Amin, a brutal military dictator who seized power in 1971, killing up to 500,000 people and expelling Uganda’s entire Asian population before he was deposed and sent into exile eight years later.
A couple of days after LeBron James' blockbuster announcement that he is headed to Philadelphia for his 24th NBA season, the NBA world is still buzzing. Here is the latest fallout from LeBron's decision to head to the City of Brotherly Love.
Stephen Curry’s reaction
Stephen Curry found out about LeBron's decision from a fan while on a golf course, which somehow feels appropriate.
A fan broke the LeBron news to Steph Curry while he was golfing
But what did Curry really think? Curry was asked that Saturday while attending a youth basketball camp run by fellow Warrior Moses Moody, reports Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic.
"That's why you don't envision anything until it happens. There's a lot of moving parts."
Golden State was where a lot of people — including people inside the Lakers' locker room — expected LeBron to land. It would have been a nostalgic run with him, Curry, Draymond Green and Steve Kerr drinking good wine and having fun playing basketball, and eventually next season Jimmy Butler would join and this team could be pretty good. But not a contender — and the winning is what mattered most to LeBron.
The Warriors looked to make major offseason upgrades. They called about Jaylen Brown but didn't have the trade return the Celtics wanted (it likely would have been the injured Butler headed East). The Warriors also called Washington about Anthony Davis, but Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints called the Wizards' asking price "unreasonable." If LeBron's agent Rich Paul could have assured the Warriors that acquiring Davis meant LeBron was guaranteed to choose them, then maybe Golden State would have paid the price, but that kind of assurance was never on the table. LeBron really was thinking through what he prioritized, and that informed his decision.
Why the Warriors were hesitant to go all-in on Davis is also tied to a bigger picture, according to long-time Bay Area sports writer and podcaster Tim Kawakami on The TK Show (hat tip Real GM).
"What (team governor Joe) Lacob wants to do, and this might get Warriors fans mad. He wants to build the next team after Steph Curry. I don't know how possible that is, but Lacob has a very keen interest in... this organization's going to show what it can do with Steph Curry and then after Steph Curry."
After Curry comes an inevitable rebuild — something that is now harder to do, likely will drag out longer, and involves a lot more luck because of the NBA's new lottery system.
What drove LeBron’s decision?
In choosing Philadelphia, LeBron went against the narrative, the ones that would have been familiar and comfortable storylines for the documentary he is making about his last season (or seasons) in the league. Golden State with Curry is close to home and nostalgia. Cleveland was going home and he could compete at a high level. Miami would put the ball in his hands on the court, and he'd get to play with Giannis Antetokounmpo in a setting where he is comfortable.
Sources close to James told The Athletic on Friday, on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, that the reason he picked Philadelphia wasn't a part of some complicated decision matrix. It was, simply, the place James thought he could go and have the best chance to win a championship. Looking back at James' time in Los Angeles, the winning always made things better.
"Ultimately, Philadelphia makes a move and then boom! Now you got Jaylen Brown. Now hold on, wait a minute now. This looks a lot different."
Paul also gets into why LeBron is a fit on the court in Philly.
"I think he helps everybody on that team. When you talk about a secondary playmaker, if he's your secondary playmaker, you have the best secondary playmaker in the league. He helps Tyrese [Maxey] in terms of pick-and-roll action...
"When you add a LeBron, everything changes. That is why it is not easy for someone who is to be a star player on a team, when he comes, he kind of shows you how big or little of a star you actually are. It takes a special kind of person to mentally embrace that. The familiarity with him and Tyrese, you don't have to worry about that with Tyrese. They know each other, they embrace each other, they have been working out together for the last five years. So you won't have any pushback."
How Brown and Embiid adjust is another question, but if the 76ers are winning, things will smooth over quickly. When the bumps in the road inevitably come, it's going to be interesting to see how Nick Nurse handles things.
UNITED STATES - JULY 02: Baseball: Aerial rear view of Atlanta Braves Andruw Jones (25) in action, at bat vs Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia, PA 7/2/2005 (Photo by Al Tielemans/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X73831 TK2)
Today, Sunday, July 26, 2026, former Atlanta Braves center fielder Andruw Jones will officially be inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame. Jones gained election on his ninth and penultimate year on the ballot by baseball’s writers and will be joined in the 2026 class by fellow center fielder Carlos Beltran and second baseman Jeff Kent.
Jones is arguably the greatest defensive center fielder in baseball history who is, at worse, in the discussion as the best with all-time great Willie Mays and a handful of others such as long-time big leaguer Jim Edmonds. Only Mays and Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente earned more Gold Gloves than Jones as outfielders.
Jones gained election with 78.4-percent of the vote and is the latest – and likely the last – player from the Braves’ legendary run of greatness from 1991 through 2005 to gain enshrinement in the Hall of Fame. That Braves dynasty included 14 division championships, five National League pennants and the 1995 World Series championship.
Jones, who was signed by the Braves as a teenager out of Curaçao, debuted with Atlanta in 1996 at age 19 and made history when be was the youngest player to homer in the World Series that same season. He spent 12 seasons in Atlanta winning ten consecutive Gold Gloves beginning in 1998 and ending in 2007, his final year with the Braves.
Jones was also a five-time All-Star, a Silver Slugger and the TSN Player of the Year in 2005 when he led the National League with a career-best 51 home runs and 128 RBI.
After leaving Atlanta, Jones’ career went into a tailspin, playing for four different organizations in five seasons – the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees. Despite playing in no fewer than 153 games from 1997 through 2007 with the Braves, Jones only eclipsed 100 games played once in his final five campaigns. His MLB career would conclude in 2012, despite only being 35 years old. He played two more seasons in Japan before officially retiring in February 2016 after two unsuccessful attempts to make a MLB comeback.
Those final five season of his career is what likely prevented Jones from gaining election earlier in his eligibility cycle. Despite those struggles, ultimately, the Hall of Fame did call Jones for election.
In 17 big league seasons, Jones played in 2,196 and slugged 434 home runs. He also stole 152 bases, drove in 1,289 runs and scored 1,204 times while collecting 1,933 hits. Fangraphs credits him with 67.0 fWAR, including six seasons of 6.0 fWAR or higher and three seasons exceeding 7.0.
Defensively, Jones was in a class almost to himself. The video embedded above from MLB’s Vault showcases a number of his highlights – so if you weren’t able to watch Jones glide through the outfield, dive in every directions to make catches or climb on or crash into outfield walls, it is worth watching.
With incredible range and an innate ability to play shallow in center field and go back on the ball, rarely did it seem that a fly ball hit between the left fielder and right fielder was not within his catch radius. As a center fielder only, he had 4,457 putouts – with less than 200 of those coming with teams other than the Braves.
Although advanced defensive metric were not available for most of his career – especially during his peak – Baseball Reference does rank him as the 22nd best defensive player of all-time and the top-ranked center fielder.
Two decades after his peak, Jones was a player whose black-and-white stats don’t paint the full picture of who he was defensively. His instincts in the outfield were elite. Based on the pitcher throwing, the catcher set-up per pitch, etc., Jones was often in motion as a pitch was being thrown.
On the field, for more than a decade, Jones was the best in the game defensively with an above average offensive profile that concluded with a career .486 slugging percentage (and a .497 slugging percentage with the Braves). Only once between 1998 and 2006 did he post a wRC+ below 112.
Injuries and off-the-field issues contributed to a decline in performance after his age 29 season. He did rebound slightly as a platoon corner outfielder and designated hitter in the final seasons of his MLB career. He also had success in Japan, hitting 50 home runs across two seasons with Rakuten.
He is a member of the Braves Hall of Fame and his number 25 was retired in 2023.
Coverage the Hall of Fame induction ceremony can be seen on July 26, 2026 starting at 1:30PM Eastern on MLB Network.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 22: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half of their game against the Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena on February 22, 2026 in Los Angeles, 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 Luiza Moraes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Friday, the Sixers pulled off one of the biggest free-agent heists in NBA history when they landed LeBron James on a two-year, $7.9 million veteran-minimum contract. You’d never know it based on some of the reactions to that deal.
Jack Simone of the Boston Sports Journal declared that LeBron’s arrival in Philadelphia “will be a disaster” because they have too many alphas and not enough depth.
“The Sixers are banking on their current squad following the old-school Big 3 era, but with a Big 5 instead,” Simone wrote. “They added talent for the sake of adding talent, hoping the math will add up to a championship. But that would require playing basketball on paper instead of in person.”
Michael Pina of The Ringer acknowledged that the Sixers’ new starting five has “an egregious amount of skill, power and athleticism.” However, he added that James’ decision “doesn’t dramatically alter the NBA landscape, let alone guarantee a top-six seed for Philadelphia.”
“For the past month, I’ve been of the mind that James’s decision wouldn’t move the league’s needle in a meaningful way; he’s debatably a top-20 player in a highly competitive playoff picture,” Pina wrote. “While his decision is extremely surprising, undeniably a good thing for Philadelphia, and a bad thing for the Cavs, Heat, Warriors, and any other team that thought they were in the mix, I still feel that way.”
Oddsmakers don’t agree. The Sixers vaulted from +2200 to win the title prior to LeBron’s arrival to +1000 afterward. They’re now trailing only the San Antonio Spurs (+260), Oklahoma City Thunder (+260) and the defending-champion New York Knicks (+950) in championship odds.
Bostonians aren’t the only ones expressing doubt about LeBron and the Sixers, though.
“Good luck,” a rival executive told Howard Beck of The Ringer. “They do not have any role players on their team now. All those guys want and need the ball. I’m not sure any will want to sacrifice.”
“Somebody will have to check their ego at the door,” another team executive told Beck, “and I don’t see Joel or Bron being the ones to do it.”
So, let’s dive into the three chief concerns about the new-look Sixers and how much it’s fair to worry about each.
‘There’s only one ball’
Of the three, this is the one to be least concerned about.
In mid-July, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown had “all been in communication with James” during his free agency, “with Maxey leading the charge.” Tony Jones of The Athletic added that Embiid was also “a heavy figure in LeBron’s recruitment, and that recruitment lasted throughout the process.” (We see what you did there, Tony.)
Given his age (32) and lengthy injury history, Embiid’s MVP days are all but assuredly over. He can no longer carry the Sixers like he did for most of his tenure. Maxey, Brown and VJ Edgecombe were already poised to help shoulder more of the load, but adding LeBron takes it to a whole new level.
Granted, LeBron is at a similar stage of his career. He proved in the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round win over the Houston Rockets that he can still conjure one-of-a-kind magic occasionally, but he’s no longer the nightly 28-7-7 threat that he was in his prime. He needs help to have a real chance at winning his fifth title.
Maxey has a longstanding relationship with LeBron because they share the same agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. Paul said on his Game Over podcast that Maxey’s familiarity with LeBron will help ease his transition to the Sixers and vice versa.
“… When you add a LeBron, everything changes,” Paul said. “That is why it is not easy for someone who is [deemed] to be a star player on a team, when he comes, he kind of shows you how big or little of a star you actually are. It takes a special kind of person to mentally embrace that.
“The familiarity with him and Tyrese, you don’t have to worry about that with Tyrese. They know each other, they embrace each other, they have been working out together for the last five years. So you won’t have any pushback. You can’t pay for that. You can’t put a value on that.”
Maxey’s role has changed on a year-to-year basis for most of his Sixers tenure. Edgecombe is just smiling through it all. And Brown presumably didn’t spend his recruitment of LeBron discussing how much he refuses to downshift as needed.
LeBron is hungry for a fifth title. Brown is hungry for his second—and to shove egg in the Celtics’ faces. Embiid, Maxey and Edgecombe all have yet to win even one. The Disease of Me should not be what undoes the Sixers in 2026-27.
Not enough shooting
It feels safe to assume that Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown, LeBron and Embiid will comprise the Sixers’ starting five. Among that group, Maxey shot the best from three-point range last season at only 36.7 percent. Edgecombe shot 35.4 percent, Brown shot 34.7 percent, Embiid shot 33.3 percent and LeBron shot 31.7 percent.
However, the two years prior, LeBron shot a combined 39.3 percent from deep. Maxey drilled a scorching 43.1 percent of his three-point attempts across his second and third seasons. And Edgecombe ended the season pledging that “coming into next year, a team won’t ever leave me open.”
Given the rest of the talent throughout the Sixers’ starting lineup, they might not have a choice.
Thankfully, Doc Rivers is not in charge of this roster. Nick Nurse isn’t likely to follow his lead with hockey-style full lineup changes. The starters will mix with the bench players for all but the beginning and end of each half.
Coming off the bench, the Sixers have Anfernee Simons, a career 38.1 percent long-range shooter on 6.6 attempts per game. He spent exactly none of those seasons alongside a playmaker of LeBron’s caliber, either.
They’re also going to get Kentavious Caldwell-Pope after he clears waivers. KCP was rough the past two seasons in Orlando and Memphis, but he was a dead-eye shooter over the half-decade preceding that. He spent all but one year of that span playing with either LeBron or Nikola Jokić.
If KCP has a bounce-back season from deep by feasting off wide-open shots, he and Simons alone might help mitigate concerns about the Sixers’ offensive spacing. Rookie Labaron Philon Jr., who shot 39.9 percent from distance at Alabama last year, could also chip in. But the impact of LeBron shouldn’t be understated here, either.
LeBron might not be the scorer or drive-and-kick threat that he was once, but he’s still a preternatural passer at the age of 41. He has the uncanny ability to deliver passes right into his teammates’ shooting pockets. Not only should each Sixers player get easier shots just by virtue of how much stress they’ll be putting on defenses, but they’ll be catching passes from one of the best playmakers of all time.
It’s also worth noting that the Sixers were 21st leaguewide in three-point attempts, 22nd in three-pointers made and 23rd in three-point percentage last season. How much further can they fall?
With a bounce-back season from Maxey and the new additions off the bench, the Sixers should be able to scrape by with enough shooting. They won’t be the Steph-and-Klay Golden State Warriors by any means, but they also won’t be the 2025-26 Brooklyn Nets.
Can they stay healthy?
This is the most legitimate concern. Between LeBron’s age—the man missed the beginning of last season with sciatica, which is the most DNP-Old ailment possible—and Embiid’s lengthy injury history, there’s no guarantee that the Sixers will make it to mid-April in one piece.
Backup center looms as a potential problem area with that in mind.
The Sixers chose not to re-sign Andre Drummond this offseason. Instead, they spent part of their bi-annual exception on Ariel Hukporti, who was the Knicks’ third-string center last year. He’ll battle with Adem Bona to be Embiid’s primary backup, but he’s more or less a total mystery box for now.
Bona is energetic and springy, but he’s also foul-prone and fumbles far too many passes. Getting him not to botch easy scoring opportunities will be LeBron’s final exam with the Sixers during the regular season.
In the games where Embiid plays, Bona and Hukporti should be able to hold down the fort for 15-20 minutes. But in the games that Embiid misses—especially if those come in the playoffs—the Bona-Hukporti duo would not strike much fear in the heart of opponents.
Embiid and LeBron both figure to miss at least 10-15 games during the regular season even if they otherwise stay healthy. The Sixers will likely look to limit their load throughout the 82-game meat-grinder with one eye on the playoffs. How the Sixers make do in their absences will be one of the biggest questions hanging over this team heading into the year.
Granted, the roster in mid-February almost certainly won’t be the same as the roster in late July. While the Sixers don’t have enough space under the first apron to fill their final roster spot right now, veteran-minimum contracts prorate once the regular season begin. They’ll be able to fill it at some point.
The opening months of the season will help the Sixers figure out where their biggest needs are. From there, it’ll be up to Magic Mike Gansey and Co. to once again turn lemons into lemonades, just as they did this offseason.
In the meantime… the Sixers just signed LeBron James on a veteran-minimum contract! Let’s not overthink this one, people.
May 2, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Brandon Morrow (23) pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Today marks Brandon Morrow’s 42nd birthday.
The Blue Jays acquired Brandon Morrow in December 2009, just before Christmas, in a trade that sent Brandon League and Johermyn Chavez to Seattle. I wonder how many Brandon-for-Brandon trades have occurred in MLB history.
Morrow, the 5th overall draft pick in the 2006 draft, was rushed to the majors, as per Seattle’s organizational philosophy and made the team’s opening day roster in 2007 as a reliever. He has made a few starts since then, but things have kept pushing him back into the bullpen – from the acquisition of Erik Bedard to various arm problems to his own erraticness. His pitching for the past three seasons has been marked by respectable overall numbers other than sky-high walk rates, which have really hurt him. There’s no doubt that there is significant upside in Morrow – the walks are a huge problem, but at 25, there’s still a chance Morrow can put it behind him. Morrow is eligible for arbitration. It’s hard not to like someone with a career 9.3 K/9 at 25, but there’s also a significant history of arm problems. I really hope the Jays make him a starter this season and just leave him there – if the Jays trade League and one of their top prospects for a reliever, I won’t be happy with the deal.
I included that mostly for the word erraticness, but that described Morrow to a T.
Chavez never reached the majors, but League had an up-and-down career post-trade. He notched 37 saves in 2011 and ended his career with three seasons as a Dodger, including an appearance in the NLCS. League had been a favourite of mine, but in general, trading a reliever for a starter is a smart move.
Morrow’s inconsistency did prove to be an issue. In 2010, he made 26 starts, pitched 146.1 innings, and issued 66 walks. However, pitching coach Bruce Walton worked closely with him. An interview with Walton included my favorite insight:
What does Brandon Morrow have to do to be more consistent?
Brandon, it’s my second year with Brandon. His first year we went through some walk issues, base on balls, command issues. We pretty much ironed it out. We got to the point where now we left a lot of balls in the middle of the plate. So we went from one extreme to the other extreme and we gave up a lot of home runs last year. He’s a fly ball pitcher at times, he doesn’t get a whole lot of ground balls, so when the ball sits in the middle of the plate belt high and they get a piece of it, it goes. So now it is just staying down in the zone consistently. I think for Brandon to be consistent, his pitches have to be down consistent. We have to plan the effort level to pitch at consistently. Consistency is what we have to work on in every aspect. Keeping the ball down, keeping our emotions in check. Keeping our work effort at a certain level, consistently. All those will come. This is the year for that to come. There’s steps to becoming a major league starting pitcher. The first step was that we needed to throw strikes. We accomplished that. It took us a year and a half. Our next step is to manage the game a little bit better and manage our emotions a little bit better and manage our season a little bit better and become more consistent. That’s where we are at.
Of course, we all remember his one-hitter in 2010.
And then there were the injuries. Over his five seasons with the Jays, he made 26, 30, 21, 10, and 6 starts, suffering nearly every type of arm injury imaginable for a pitcher.
Overall, as a Blue Jay, Morrow posted a 34-31 record with a 4.40 ERA. He logged 538 innings, struck out 561 batters, walked 212, and earned a 5.4 bWAR.
Morrow later played for the Padres, Dodgers, and Cubs, continuing to battle injuries. Notably, he pitched in all seven games of the 2017 World Series for the Dodgers in their infamous loss to the Astros. He appeared in 35 games for the Cubs in 2018, which marked the end of his MLB career.
He finished his MLB career with a 51-43 record, 40 saves, and a 3.96 ERA across 334 games and 113 starts.
Happy Birthday, Brandon. Wishing you a great day.
It is also Kevin Barker’s 51st birthday.
Barker played 12 games with the Jays in 2006 during a five-season MLB career, appearing in 126 games overall and posting a .249/.328/.354 batting line as a backup catcher.
He’s a baseball talking head now. Early in his career, he seemed always to be yelling, now he only yells most of the time.
And it is Spencer Miles’ 26th birthday.
Miles is having a strong rookie season, currently posting a 3.33 ERA across 38 games and 67.2 innings. Pretty impressive for a guy who’s had just 14.2 minor league innings.
Braydon Fisher also turns 26.
Braydon is in his second season in the MLB with the Blue Jays. His rookie year was very good, with a 2.70 ERA holding batters to a .551 OPS. This year has gone well too, maybe not quite as good, but a 3.83 ERA, holding batters to a .677 OPS
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 14: Drew Rasmussen #57 of the Tampa Bay Rays is introduced prior to the 96th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
LeBron James' agent Rich Paul says that James went through immense emotional turmoil "every day" until the 41-year-old made his decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers early Friday morning.
"You can see from the end of the season…the emotional attachments and how hard it is to go away from a Miami and go away from a Cleveland," said Paul on the "Game Over" podcast Friday afternoon. "Who wouldn't want to play with Steph Curry and Draymond Green? I'm seeing the emotional roller coaster every single day."
Rich Paul says LeBron was on a emotional roller coaster making his decision:
Rich: The emotional attachments to go away from a Miami, and go away from a Cleveland, who wouldn’t want to play with Steph Curry and Draymond Green?
Paul also added that he believed every team in the race was leading at some point for James' services, but James opted for Philadelphia because the team had become a much more attractive option since trading for Jaylen Brown. Furthermore, James' relationship with Tyrese Maxey, who is also represented by Klutch Sports, played a role in the decision as well.
Why did LeBron James choose the 76ers?
Paul says that James chose the 76ers because of their ability to contend for a championship immediately. Paul noted that the decision to trade away Paul George in exchange for Jaylen Brown while already boasting a roster with star players like Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and up-and-comer VJ Edgecombe gave James the clarity he needed to make his decision.
Paul also believes that the team's head coach Nick Nurse will find a way to implement James' into the team's tactics without diminishing anyone else's impact.
Paul said, "[James] helps Tyrese [Maxey] in terms of pick-and-roll action. ... I think Nick Nurse can take a little page out of Ty Lue's book and use Tyrese as the screener. When you talk about a guy like VJ Edgecombe, he definitely helps him."
Were other teams in the running?
The Minnesota Timberwolves were another team Paul mentions in the podcast, though he clarifies that they were not one of the final four teams James was considering.
Who will win Astros vs White Sox today: White Sox (-107)
The Chicago White Sox offense hasn’t clicked in the first two games of the series, but this pitching matchup will help get their bats humming.
Houston Astros' hurler Ronel Blanco is making just his second start of the season, and his first outing saw him give up two homers and issue three walks.
After throwing the slider 32% of the time last season, he essentially abandoned it, opting for a changeup instead.
Astros vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (+105)
Despite losing, Houston will do its part to eclipse this total. The Astros have won five straight, with Saturday’s 4-1 win the only game in that streak in which they didn’t score at least five runs.
Chicago starts Erick Fedde, who is benefiting from starting for a first-place team. His five wins top last season’s total, and his ERA is a full run lower than his FIP (5.15), which is actually higher than last season’s performance.
Both bullpens have also been taxed in this series, combining for 30 innings in the last three games.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 27-35, -4.72 units
Over/Under bets: 36-21, +2.57 units
Astros vs White Sox weather
Astros vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Astros -104 | White Sox -107
Run line: Astros -1.5 (+156) | White Sox +1.5 (-163)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+133) | Under 9.5 (-117)
Astros vs White Sox trend
The Houston Astros have hit the game total Over in seven of their last 10 away games (+4.80 Units / 43% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Astros vs. White Sox.
How to watch Astros vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Sunday, July 26, 2026
First pitch
2:10 p.m. ET
TV
SCHN, CHSN
Astros starting pitcher
Ronel Blanco (0-0, 7.71 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Erick Fedde (5-6, 4.16 ERA)
Astros vs White Sox latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
WHAT A RELIEF: Cubs bullpen, last three games: 10 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 12 K, 0.91 ERA, 0.500 WHIP.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY? Since June 10, the Cubs are 25-11, the best record in the NL and half a game behind the Red Sox (26-11) for the best record in MLB over that span.
LOTS AND LOTS OF RUNS: The Cubs’ 11-run outburst Saturday gave them 534 runs for the season, or 5.13 per game. That is a pace for 832 runs, which would be their second-most since 1970 (855 in 2008 is their most in the last 56 years).
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: The Cubs smash five home runs (Brian McRae, Sammy Sosa, Tyler Houston, Leo Gomez and Jose Hernandez) and crush the Rockies 17-4 at Coors Field. It happened 30 years ago today, Friday, July 26, 1996. (NOTE: The 17-4 score was identical to the Cubs winning score that I cited in yesterday’s “Today in Cubs history” item, though many years apart.)
Once again, neither team had a lineup available at the time this preview posted. Please check BCB social media for the lineups.
Jameson Taillon, RHP vs. Braxton Crawford, RHP
Jameson Taillon has not had a good year. This, you know.
His last start at PNC Park was kind of the epitome of his year — four runs in five innings, including two home runs, on May 27. (The Cubs won the game anyway, 10-4.)
All we can do is hope for better. He’s been slightly better in day games (six starts, 4.63 ERA, nine HR in 35 innings) than night games (eight starts, 6.08 ERA, 13 HR in 37 innings), for whatever that’s worth. Not that either of those sets of numbers is actually good, though.
Do better, Jamo.
Braxton Ashcraft has started twice against the Cubs this year and done pretty well — 1.59 ERA, 1.147 WHIP, 14 strikeouts in 11.1 innings.
Since June 1, though, he’s had a rough time of it: 6.05 ERA, 1.416 WHIP, nine home runs in 41.2 innings. He got absolutely pounded in his last start, July 20 vs. the Yankees, for eight runs (seven earned) in three innings, including a pair of homers.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
COVERS INTEL: 
