Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

Posted on

What Are The Chances of Connor Hellebuyck Returning Home to Detroit?

As the dust continues to settle around the Connor Hellebuyck trade situation, one of the bigger questions circulating is where exactly the Michigan native would actually be open to waiving his no-movement clause. 

Plenty of contending teams could stand to benefit from adding a three-time Vezina Trophy winner between the pipes, but no major offer has materialized publicly beyond the deal that nearly came together with the Buffalo Sabres around the draft, one that would have sent the fourth overall pick to Winnipeg.

Amid the renewed buzz, TSN's Chris Johnston added an interesting wrinkle, saying Hellebuyck is willing to waive his no-movement clause for "a variety of teams." That comment has fans wondering whether that list could include his home-state Detroit Red Wings.

There are plenty of caveats fans have already pointed out. Detroit remains a young team that doesn't obviously fit the mold of a Stanley Cup contender, which Hellebuyck has made clear is his priority. Still, there's an argument that landing him could be something of a two-birds, one-stone move for the Red Wings. 

Adding a goaltender of Hellebuyck's caliber could go a long way toward convincing captain Dylan Larkin, who has his own trade request in play, that the organization is serious about competing in the short term, potentially satisfying two disgruntled stars at once.

It's also worth noting that Hellebuyck's own statement emphasized wanting what's best for himself and his family, and it's hard to get much closer to home than Detroit for a Commerce Township native.

Another concern raised by fans is the risk of the move looking wasted a few years down the line. Hellebuyck is already 33, and by the time Detroit's prospect pipeline is fully NHL-ready, he could be well past his prime. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.

New Reports Suggest NHL in Advanced Talks to Bring 33rd NHL Franchise to HoustonNew Reports Suggest NHL in Advanced Talks to Bring 33rd NHL Franchise to HoustonCapitalizing on surging ratings and a booming local talent pipeline, league officials move toward a definitive deal to plant a second professional team in the Lone Star State.

The counterargument is that his career could follow a path similar to fellow future Hall of Famer Sergei Bobrovsky, who is still performing at a high level at 37 and recently signed with Toronto through age 40. Goaltenders also don't typically command the largest trade returns, meaning giving up a blue-chip prospect or two to finally deliver playoff hockey to Detroit could be a reasonable price. 

It could also speed up the rebuild in a different way, giving a young goaltender like Trey Augustine a mentor as accomplished as any active netminder in the league.

The biggest questions still come down to two things: what Detroit would actually have to give up, and whether it's worth it, and second, whether the Red Wings could convince Hellebuyck they're closer to contention than they appear, or whether it would amount to a lateral move, which, as of now, feels like the more likely outcome. 

Fans would undoubtedly love to see the Michigan native return home, but there are real hurdles Detroit's next general manager would need to clear to make a deal like that a reality.

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Walker Jenkins is in the big leagues

Welcome to Waiver Wire Watch, our weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire guide. We'll be doing things a little differently this season, with Eric Samulski publishing the initial waiver-wire article on Friday afternoon. Then James Schiano updates it every Sunday to make sure you get the most up-to-date information.

The premise of the article is pretty straightforward. We'll give you some recommended adds each week based on recent production or role changes. When we list a player, we'll list the category where we think he’ll be helpful or the quick reason he’s listed. We hope this helps you determine whether the player fits your team's needs. Not every "trending" player will be a good addition to your specific roster.

To qualify for this list, a player needs to be UNDER 40% rostered in Yahoo! formats. We understand you may say, “These players aren’t available in my league,” and we can’t help you there. These players are available in over 60% of leagues and some in 98% of leagues, so they’re available in many places, and that can hopefully satisfy readers who play in all league types.

⚾️ Baseball is back on NBC: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters

Tristan Peters - OF, CWS (38% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, HOT STREAK)

Remember when Tristan Peter was named an All-Star? Well, the former Savannah Banana (back when it was a college summer baseball team) is on fire in August, hitting .349/.438/.730 with six home runs, 13 runs scored, 14 RBI, and two steals. Will he continue to hit homers at this rate? It's highly unlikely, but Peters has had a really good season and is seeing the ball really well right now. His defense will continue to keep him in the lineup, so you gotta keep riding this out.

Samuel Basallo - C, BAL (33% rostered)

(OFF THE IL, POWER UPSIDE)

Yes, Basallo has not been good since coming off the injured list, going 4-for-35 in 11 games. However, this is just a pick-up because he's going to play every day, and we know the kind of power he has in his bat. It's a bet on it clicking sometime soon.

Sunday update: Basallo left the game on Saturday after blocking a pitch with his bare hand. Keep up with the Player News page to check his status.

Spencer Jones - OF, NYY (27% rostered)

(POWER UPSIDE, PLATE APPROACH GROWTH?)

Jones is incredibly polarizing. On one hand, he has three home runs and five steals in 23 games in August, and we know the power/speed is real. He also has an 80.5% zone contact rate in August, which is much better than anything he's ever done in the minor leagues. On the other hand, he's hitting just .222 in August; he has an 18.1% swinging strike rate and a 33% strikeout rate. So even if this is Jones with the best zone contact rate he's ever shown, he is still a poor batting average hitter with major strikeout issues and a 92 wRC+. If you want to hunt the power and speed, go for it. Also, when Aaron Judge comes back, it has to be Jones going to the bench, right? Unless the Yankees are going to bench Trent Grisham, but that doesn't seem likely.

Tommy Edman - 2B/3B/OF, LAD (23% rostered)

(LINEUP CHANGE, HOT STREAK)

The injury to Andy Pages means that Edman has moved up into the fifth or sixth spot in the Dodgers' lineup. That has really helped his counting stats, and he's hitting gone 5-for-21 with five runs scored, four RBI, and a steal in six games without Pages. It's a small sample size, but taking a contact hitter who hits in the middle of that lineup makes some sense. Mauricio Dubon - 2B/3B/SS/OF, ATL (38% rostered) is now the unquestioned starting shortstop for the Braves, and has multi-position eligibility, which makes him a valuable add in deeper formats as well.

Jake Burger - 1B, TEX (21% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, POWER UPSIDE)

Oh, look, another streaking power hitter. Burger is hitting .246/.342/.478 in August with four home runs, 10 RBI, and a 132 wRC+. That's with a 14.3% barrel rate and 53.1% hard-hit rate. He also has home runs in two of his last three games, and all four of his home runs this month have come since August 14th. You're just riding the wave here, especially with the Athletics' pitching staff coming to town.

Walker Jenkins - OF, MIN (20% rostered)

(POWER/SPEED UPSIDE, PROSPECT PROMOTION)

The Twins are finally calling up Walker Jenkins. The fifth overall selection from the 2023 draft class has slashed an impressive .308/.407/.532 with 12 homers, 28 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and a 48/42 K/BB ratio over 307 plate appearances in 69 games at Triple-A St. Paul this season. He has been even better in August, hitting .411/.488/.795 in August with eight home runs, 16 runs scored, 13 RBI, and seven steals. We'd much prefer him to other recent prospect promotions like Spencer Jones and Zac Veen.

Sunday update: Walker laced a 103 mph single in his debut for the first hit as a big leaguer. He also hit a ball to the warning track. Then on Saturday, he doubled, walked, and stole a base. He absolutely looks like he belongs in the majors and could be an elite contributor down the stretch.

Tim Tawa - 1B/2B/3B/OF, ARI (18% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, POWER UPSIDE)

Tawa earned a starting job in July and has not looked back. In 25 games in August, he is hitting .283/.337/.435 with four home runs, 11 runs scored, 11 RBI, and five steals. That's come with a 13% barrel rate, 53% hard-hit rate, and slightly below average 83.7% zone contact rate. Still, Tawa's 12.5% swinging strike rate is fine for somebody who is going to barrel the ball that much. We'd much rather have his power/speed profile than Spencer Jones.

Sunday update: in three games since Friday, Tawa went 4-for-12 with a home run, a stolen base, three RBI, and four runs scores. He's been filling up the box score for weeks and shouldn't be ignored.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand - 1B/3B, BAL (15% rostered)

(POWER UPSIDE, POTENTIAL STARTING JOB)

CES is getting a chance to start at third base against both righties and lefties, and has had a solid month of August, hitting .250/.284/.474 with four home runs and 16 RBI. He has a 17% barrel rate and 45% hard-hit rate but also a 30% strikeout rate. Another factor to consider is that Blaze Alexander looks set to come back off the injured list, and he will likely take that third base job back. Will the Orioles play CES at 1B? Can they play him at DH and let Basallo catch more often? We have to see how the playing time shakes out.

Kaelen Culpepper - SS, MIN (14% rostered)

(PROSPECT PROMOTION, POWER/SPEED COMBO)

James recorded this video ahead of Culpepper’s debut about how his skills could translate to the big leagues. He is the Twins' second-ranked prospect and the 29th-ranked prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He had a .271 average with 14 home runs, 46 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 74 games for Triple-A St. Paul this season, and has hit the ground running in Minnesota. In his first 16 MLB games, he's hitting .333/.381/.526 with three home runs, eight runs scored, and six steals. He has no steals, which is a bummer since he had 17 in Triple-A and 25 last season, but maybe those will come soon.

Connor Norby - 1B/2B/3B, COL (13% rostered)

(SWING CHANGE, STARTING JOB)

Eric wrote an article this week on hitters who were making key changes to their processand mentioned that Norby had made a major batting stance change with the Rockies. Since coming to the Rockies, Norby is hitting .310/.408/.571 with a 43% hard-hit rate and a two-degree attack angle towards the opposite field side, which is less opposite field focused than with the Marlins. His stance is now 20 degrees more open, and his feet are 10 inches closer together. The general idea is that a narrower stance like that can help make it easier to keep weight on the back foot to create more power. We've previously seen that unlock more power for Brice Turang, so it wouldn't be a shock if it's working for Norby. Jeff McNeil - 1B/2B/OF, ATH (18% rostered) is another option for batting average. In 32 games since the All-Star break, McNeil is hitting .361/.381/.509 with three home runs, 15 runs scored, and 20 RBI. There is very little healthy competition behind him in Sacramento right now, so we'll roll the dice.

Henry Bolte - OF, ATH (12% rostered)

(BATTING AVERAGE PLAY, RUNS UPSIDE)

When Bolte was called up earlier in the summer, the narrative was that he had finally started to lift the ball a little more and had improved the swing-and-miss issues, which gave him a lower fantasy floor. However, in his first few MLB weeks, he was stealing a lot of bases and hitting a lot of groundballs and not doing much else. Now, in 18 games in August, he's hitting .326/.385/.484 with three home runs, 17 runs scored, eight RBI, and two steals. He's still only hitting 17% fly balls this month, but the ones he is hitting are often pulled and can leave the yard. He's settled in as the leadoff hitter, so he's a great bet for runs and batting average.

Griffin Conine - OF, MIA (12% rostered)

(PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY, POWER UPSIDE)

Conine has admittedly cooled off over the last two weeks, but he still has five home runs, a 15% barrel rate, and a 44.7% hard-hit rate in August. Like any hitter with plus power, he is going to go through some cold stretches. You can choose to drop him if you want, but he was too good for 3-4 weeks for us to fully abandon him. He will sit against lefties, so he's a better option if you're in a daily moves league or a mid-week lineup change league. His teammate, Heriberto Hernandez - OF, MIA (17% rostered) is streaking again too with four home runs in August and three of them coming since August 16th. Much like Conine, you can ride a hot stretch with Hernandez's bat.

Rafael Flores Jr. - C/1B, PIT (11% rostered)

(POWER UPSIDE, STARTING JOB)

We can't say we expected this from Flores Jr. The former Yankees prospect came to the Pirates last season in the David Bednar trade. At the time, he had played just 10 games in Triple-A, and it was unclear what he might amount to in a system that hasn't produced a lot of great catching prospects in recent years (not including Ben Rice, who is no longer a catcher). Flores then hit just .228 with four home runs and 38 RBI in 65 games at Triple-A this season, and it seemed like another not-really prospect. Yet, since Endy Rodriguez went on the IL, Flores has been playing most games and has hit .241/.305/.556 with five home runs and 12 RBI in 17 games in August. He has good bat speed and a 52% hard-hit rate and is for sure worth an add in all two-catcher formats.

Sunday update: Flores hit a mammoth 434 foot home run on Saturday — his sixth in August — and is becoming more viable in 12-team leagues.

Garrett Mitchell - OF, MIL (9% rostered)

SWING CHANGE, PERFORMANCE SURGE)

We covered Mitchell earlier in the summer when he made a major batting stance change in June and then had a huge month of July. He keeps producing, even if it's not at the rate he was before. Before changing his batting stance, Mitchell had a 77.1% zone contact rate, but that has jumped up to 83.1% since then. It was 87.1% in July and has since trended down a bit in August, but both months have been well ahead of what we saw in the past. Since changing his stance, his strikeout rate has fallen from 34.2% to 28.2%, his batting average has gone from .251 to .282, and his OPS has increased from .761 to .804. Those are noteworthy and intriguing changes. It may also be coming together for Hector Rodriguez - OF, CIN (5% rostered), who has gone 8-for-21 with three home runs, four runs scored, and three RBI over his last five games. It's a small sample size, but this was a prospect we were interested in who gets to play his home games in an elite offensive environment.

Pedro Ramírez - 2B/3B, CHC (9% rostered)

(POTENTIAL STARTING JOB, PROSPECT PEDIGREE)

With Dansby Swanson out for the regular season, Nico Hoerner has moved to shortstop, and Ramírez has become the regular second baseman for the Cubs. On the season, Ramírez is slashing .286/.345/.429 with three home runs, 24 runs scored, 21 RBI, and seven steals. That’s given him a 114 wRC+ that’s good for 11th-best among all qualified rookies. However, every rookie ahead of him on that list has at least 251 plate appearances. Among all 50 qualified rookies, Ramírez also ranks 12th in wOBA, 13th in on-base percentage, 14th in contact rate, and 17th in hard-hit rate. It’s a small sample size, but he’s fitting right in with what’s considered to be one of the better rookie hitter groups we’ve seen in a while. The only question is what happens to his playing time now that Matt Shaw has returned.

Sunday update: Ramírez has had himself a weekend against the Reds so far. Through two games, he's gone 3-for-7 with a home run, three RBI, four runs scored, and two walks. We're excited about how productive he can be down the stretch with a full-time job.

Angel Genao - 2B/3B/SS, CLE (8% rostered)

(EVERY DAY ROLE, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

We've had Genao on here since he got called up, and James highlighted his potential in a video. In 72 games at Triple-A, Genao hit .309/.395/.494 with 13 home runs, 53 RBI, and 11 steals with a 92% zone contact rate and a 7% swinging strike rate. So far, he has acclimated himself well, hitting .288/.347/.379 with nine runs scored and one steal in 18 games. He doesn't have a ton of power, and the Guardians' offense is not helping him with counting stats, but he continues to get hits, which is certainly valuable if you need batting average. Another multi-position player who has settled into an everyday role is Javier Sanoja - 2B/3B/SS/OF, MIA (20% rostered). In 23 games in August, he's hitting .333/366/.526 with three home runs and 16 RBI, so there has been a surprising amount of production lately.

Joey Ortiz - SS/3B, MIL (6% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, SPEED UPSIDE)

We had Ortiz on her a few weeks ago when he had changed his swing, but then his playing time became inconsistent. Now, in 16 games in August, he's hitting .309/.365/.491 with two home runs, 10 runs scored, 10 RBI, and one steal. That's come with a 7% barrel rate and 44% hard-hit rate, which are well up from what we're used to seeing out of Ortiz. They need to keep playing him while he's hitting.

Dylan Beavers - OF, BAL (3% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, POWER SURGE)

Beavers has taken the left field job and run with it in Baltimore. In 22 games in August, he's hitting .262/.338/.508 with four home runs, eight runs scored, 13 RBI, and one steal. That's with a 16% barrel rate and 46% hard-hit rate. His bat speed is up one mph in the second half, and his swing has more loft with a steeper angle of the sweet spot of the bat at contact. That could be leading to his recent power surge, but it's worth a gamble.

Luis Lara - OF, MIN (3% rostered)

(BATTING STANCE CHANGE, HOT STREAK)

Lara is another Brewers hitter who has made a swing change that appears to be working. Over his last 15 games, Lara is hitting .308/.345/.423 with one home run, nine runs scored, six RBI, and one steal. Now, some of that could be because the Brewers have seen so many lefties lately, but Lara could push Sal Frelick for the starting job in right field. It's a situation to monitor.

Drew Gilbert - OF, SF (2% rostered)

(POWER UPSIDE, HOT STREAK)

Drew Gilbert plays against all right-handed pitching and has been hitting the ball well in August with a .265/.333/.515 slash line with four home runs, 15 runs scored, and 15 RBI. He was an intriguing prospect back when the Mets traded for him a few years ago, and while it never came together in New York, the plate discipline has always been good, and there is some pop in his bat. He figures to get a long leash in San Francisco this month. Another rookie outfielder who's surging is Nathan Church - OF, STL (2% rostered), who's hitting .313/.368/.463 in 20 games in August with two home runs, nine runs scored, 14 RBI, and three steals. Another rookie on a bad team, Church figures to be in the lineup every day.

Seaver King - SS, WSN (1% rostered)

(STASH, POWER/SPEED COMBO)

A prospect with stash potential, King has 18 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and a 150 wRC+ in 91 games split between Double-A and Triple-A this season. He may get an opportunity for some big-league shortstop reps, given the recent news that CJ Abrams is shifting to second base. You don't NEED to get ahead of this and stash King, but we'd add him immediately if news came that he was getting a shot.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Jacob Lopez - SP, ATH (33% rostered)

This just keeps happening, and we're having flashbacks of that insane 11-13 start stretch of tremendous production last year that Lopez was on last year. In seven starts since rejoining the rotation, he has a 2.33 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 29.9% strikeout rate in 38.2 innings. We know Sacramento is scary, but we also know that finding good pitchers in deeper formats is incredibly challenging. He also pitches on the road next week.

Sunday update: Lopez put together a solid start at home against the Orioles on Friday with one earned run over five innings. Next up is much better matchup on the road against the Rangers.

Mason Montgomery - RP, PIT (29% rostered)
We thought Luke Weaver would walk into Pittsburgh and just take the closer's role. It hasn't happened. Granted, the Pirates only have five saves in August, but Montgomery has four of them, and Weaver doesn't have one. Montgomery always had elite swing-and-miss ability, so if he's now the main guy at the back of the bullpen, he needs to be added.

Andrew Painter - SP, PHI (26% rostered)

Andrew Painter is reinventing himself, and his roster rate needs to be climbing higher than this. We now have a few starts where he has leaned on his new changeup (was previously a splitter) more than any other pitch. We also have recent starts where he changed his grip on his four-seamerand got more velocity and vertical movement than he ever had. 18 inches of iVB at 97 mph is something we can easily get behind. Eric referred to him as Cade Cavalli 2.0 for his in-season adjustments, and we'd be adding him almost everywhere right now.

Sunday update: Painter showed some real grit in his start against the Angels on Friday. It looked like he was about to spin out during a 28-pitch where he walked two batters, threw two wild pitches, and let up three runs. Then, he faced the minimum over the next five innings and retired 16 of the final 17 batters he faced. His fastball shape was strong again with 17 inches of induced vertical break. Also, he forced multiple whiffs with five different pitches and his stuff was incredibly crisp despite command issues in that first inning. He remains a priority add who's taken a monumental step forward.

Joe Musgrove - SP, SD (26% rostered)

Musgrove will be returning from the IL next week after throwing 60 pitches (70% strikes) across five innings in Triple-A on Thursday. He said that he feels better than he has in two years, and his fastball velocity is up over 94 mph in his rehab outings. We'd prefer to add him and keep him on our bench for the first start, but he's worth a spec add at this point since he gets Cincinnati and Washington in his first two starts.

Kodai Senga - SP/RP, NYM (25% rostered)

With Devin Williams landing on the IL, Senga is the closer in New York. He has three saves in his last two weeks and really only one bad outing in a blown save against the White Sox. We know he will be volatile because he's Kodai Senga, but it's worth a look if you need saves.

Ben Joyce - RP, LAA (21% rostered)

Joyce was activated off the injured list two weeks ago and has promptly taken over the closer's role. James recorded a video last week on his stuff, path to the major leagues, and potential moving forward. He's hitting 103 mph on the radar gun, and with Sammy Natera Jr. landing on the IL, it's just Joyce for saves now.

Sunday update: Joyce's prior issues with command reared their ugly head in a brutal blown save on Friday night against the Phillies. He hit a batter with a pitch then walked two others before being pulled. Sammy Peralta relieved him and instantly let up a grand slam to Edmundo Sosa..

Jackson Jobe - SP, DET (19% rostered)

Listen, we know it's hard to trust Jackson Jobe. His four-seamer just isn't that great of a pitch, and he's not missing bats. That being said, he gets the Twins and Guardians in a two-start week this week, and we think you can roll the dice in 15-teamers.

Gage Jump - SP, ATH (15% rostered)

Gage Jump gets two starts on the road next week in Texas and Seattle. If not now, when? JT Ginn - SP, ATH (32% rostered) gets those same matchups. That's really the end of the analysis.

Eric Lauer - SP/RP, LAD (11% rostered)

With Roki Sasaki on the injured list, Lauer is back in the Dodgers' rotation. He gets to face the Nationals next weekend, so if you're streaming for wins, Lauer should be back on your radar.

Dean Kremer - SP, MIN (10% rostered)

The Twins are a good pitching organization. We shouldn't forget that. In four starts with the Twins, Kremer has a 3.18 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 20/8 K/BB ratio in 22.2 innings. He's your textbook 15-team streamer, and he gets Detroit next week, so we can use that matchup.

Elvis Alvarado - RP, ATH (10% rostered)

Guess who's back, back again? It turns out, Elvis had never left the building. Over the last month, Alvarado has a 1.38 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and three saves in 13 innings. He appears to be the closer again for the Athletics, and if you can stomach the risk, you can get back on this bandwagon.

Nate Pearson - RP, KC (3% rostered)

It appears we have a new closer in KC. Pearson was a top pitching prospect in Toronto, but injuries prevented him from ever breaking through as a starter. He finally got a chance as a reliever with the Cubs, and he's been bouncing around a bit, but he seems to have the 9th inning role in Kansas City now. Given his pedigree and potential strikeout upside, he's worth an add since he has a 0.71 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and two saves in his last 12.2 innings.

Posted on

Red Sox vs Yankees Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Cam Schlittler has emerged as an American League Cy Young contender, and he headlines the rivalry opener as the Boston Red Sox visit the New York Yankees tonight. New York is the favorite at 61% on the moneyline, with first pitch set for 7:15 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium.

Schlittler’s edge over Patrick Sandoval shapes my Red Sox vs. Yankees predictions, which back New York on the moneyline, lean Under the total, and target a Yankees slugger to go deep.

Read more in my MLB picks for Friday, Aug. 28.

Who will win Red Sox vs Yankees today: New York Yankees (61%)

Cam Schlittler gives the New York Yankees the clearest advantage in this matchup, and the 60% probability is reasonable enough to back the Yankees despite the strong recent form from the Boston Red Sox. Schlittler enters 11-6 with a 2.16 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, and 193 strikeouts. He’s the clear AL Cy Young frontrunner.

Boston counters with Patrick Sandoval, whose 4.54 ERA and 1.76 WHIP make for a much shakier profile. Opponents are batting .323 with an .866 OPS against him, and his last five starts have included 33 hits and 14 walks over just 25 2/3 innings.

The Red Sox have been one of baseball’s hottest teams since the All-Star break, but their production against right-handed pitching has dipped on the road. With Schlittler controlling traffic and the Yankees hitting lefties well at home, I’ll side with New York.

I’d play the Yankees up to about 62%.

Red Sox vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (56%)

Schlittler’s dominance is enough to bet on a weak offensive effort from Boston and, ultimately, the Under 7.5. He has allowed just 14 home runs across 158 innings, limiting one of the quickest ways a total gets away, and his sub-1.00 WHIP makes sustained rallies hard to string together.

New York has a favorable matchup against Sandoval, but the Yankees remain without Aaron Judge and managed only one run on five hits against Houston on Thursday. That lowers their offensive ceiling enough so that the Under doesn’t need Sandoval to pitch brilliantly.

If Schlittler keeps Boston around two runs, scores like 4-2 or 5-2 stay firmly in play. At 56%, I prefer backing the stronger starter to dictate the scoring environment.

I’d play the Under up to about 58%.

Red Sox vs Yankees home run prediction: Paul Goldschmidt (22%)

Paul Goldschmidt draws one of the most favorable individual matchups in the Yankees lineup, and the 14-cent price offers roughly a 7x payout if it hits. Goldschmidt has crushed left-handed pitching this season, batting .308 with a .585 slugging mark and nine home runs in 152 plate appearances against southpaws.

The pitch-level fit is even better. Sandoval’s four-seam fastball has been hit for a .423 average and a .692 slugging mark, one of the weakest pitches in his arsenal, and Goldschmidt has hammered four-seamers for a .694 slugging mark and a +8 Statcast run value this season.

Sandoval allows plenty of hard contact to right-handed hitters, and Goldschmidt gets exactly the pitch he’s punished all year.

I’ll take the long price on his platoon power and play this up to 16% for a quarter unit.

Ethan Diamandas' 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 3-6 (-3.07 units)
  • Over/Under bets: 6-3 (+2.96 units)

Red Sox vs Yankees weather

Yankee Stadium is warm at 80 degrees for first pitch, with just a light 3.4 mph wind that leaves the air fairly neutral. That warmth and the park's hitter-friendly dimensions add a bit of carry, a nice backdrop for the Paul Goldschmidt home run bet.

Red Sox vs Yankees odds

  • Moneyline: Red Sox 41% | Yankees 60%
  • Run line: Red Sox +1.5 (59%) | Yankees -1.5 (42%)
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 (48%) | Under 7.5 (53%)

Red Sox vs Yankees trend

The Yankees have posted an .848 OPS against left-handed pitching at home over the last month, a timely statistic with Red Sox lefty Patrick Sandoval on the mound. Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Yankees.

How to watch Red Sox vs Yankees and game info

LocationYankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
DateFriday, August 28, 2026
First pitch7:15 p.m. ET
TVApple TV
Red Sox starting pitcherPatrick Sandoval
(1-2, 4.54 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcherCam Schlittler
(11-6, 2.17 ERA)

Red Sox vs Yankees 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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Posted on

DePaul Is Leading. How Will Marquette Catch Up?

Marquette athletic director Mike Broeker speaks at the men’s basketball end of season banquet on April 9, 2026.
It’s a big spot for athletic director Mike Broeker. | Credit: Marquette University

In case you missed it, the NCAA approved uniform jesey patches for Division 1 sports back in January. As the college football season has been spooling up, you might have noticed one school or another announcing their jersey patch. For example, Wisconsin has partnered with Culver’s for football, men’s basketball, and men’s hockey. Probably means that everyone’s favorite purveyors of butter burgers and frozen custard is off the table as a patch option for Marquette, huh?

In fact, Marquette hasn’t announced a jersey patch sponsor yet. This isn’t a blog about that fact, I came to the conclusion that if MU was going to debut a patch for only men’s basketball, that announcement was going to come at the very least after the fall semester started (that’s still not until Monday) and probably much closer to the start of basketball season in November. If there’s not a department-wide patch sponsor — Notre Dame has an all-sports deal with SoFi, for example — then there’s no reason to announce anything before the women’s soccer season got the 2026-27 athletic calendar going back on August 12th.

All of this brings me to Thursday’s newsletter from Matt Brown over at Extra Points. I’m a proud Day 1 subscriber to Extra Points, and Matt’s writing helps me contextualize a lot of things going on in college athletics. As you can probably tell, I don’t usually use his newsletters to generate ideas over here, but this one made me start thinking, and here we are. The topic from Thursday?

Why DePaul’s jersey patch deal with Desert Cactus could pay off in multiple ways

Yep, DePaul has a jersey patch deal. According to the Extra Points Jersey Patch Tracker, it’s only for men’s basketball, but it’s also currently the only announced jersey patch in the entire Big East. The Blue Demons are leading the way in this department, getting out ahead of not just Marquette, but also UConn and St. John’s, two of the more successful men’s basketball programs in the country over the past couple of seasons.

This isn’t a new announcement, either. DePaul announced the partnership back in mid-July, so they were first to market in that regard by a wiiiiiide margin as no one else has joined them yet. Because I know you’re asking about Desert Cactus:

Desert Cactus is a Rolling Meadows, Illinois-based licensing company that designs and distributes officially licensed merchandise for 650+ colleges and universities, professional sports leagues, and pop culture brands. Since 2012, we’ve built long-term partnerships with consumers and organizations that trust us to create high-quality, on-brand products at scale.

From flags and headwear to stickers, keychains, and party supplies, Desert Cactus produces a wide range of custom, on-brand products for the organizations we partner with. Every item starts with an official license, giving retailers and fans confidence that what they’re buying is authentic. We also work directly with teams, schools, and brands on custom designs, low minimum order quantities, and quick turnaround times which is outlined in more detail on our wholesale page. It’s part of how we keep every order, big or small, moving quickly without sacrificing quality.

Matt got a chance to talk to both DePaul Athletic Director DeWayne Peevy and Desert Cactus president and founder Joe Stefani about their partnership, and I’m going to cherry pick a couple of quotes along the way here that are going to make my point for me here:

The majority of Big East schools don’t actually have a staffer just dedicated to handling licensing. But DePaul bucked the trend by hiring Lindsay Martin away from Big East peer Butler to become the department’s senior associate athletics director for merchandise and licensing back in 2021.

And:

“This is not just branding; this is a testing ground for us. That’s really, really important. Testing different ideas, trying new products, new packaging and new pricing. … Essentially, this is one giant focus group for us. It’s been awesome.” Stefani said.

Here’s a concrete example: Next week, DePaul will host the powerhouse Nebraska Cornhusker women’s volleyball team ahead of a series of matches at Wrigley Field.

Stefani told me, “I went to Lindsay, and I said, ‘I think we need to do co-branded merchandise for when Nebraska volleyball comes to play DePaul at Wintrust Arena.’ Usually a retailer will not take a chance on that in venue, but I said, ‘hey, we’ll do it on consignment.’

“We’ll do it for free. If it doesn’t sell, I’ll eat it. But I at least want to see if it’s going to work or not. Let’s try posters and keychains and stickers and stuff. So it’s things like that that we’re willing to take the risk and try it. Because if it does work, now we can take that lesson and apply it to other schools.”

And:

Essentially, if the partnership is successful, DePaul gets paid twice. Once via the original sponsorship fee and then again as university licensing revenue increases. And then Blue Demon fans benefit too, since they’ll be able to buy new stuff, and in more locations than before.

And:

Beyond just cash, products and shared expertise, Stefani told me, the company also wants to hire DePaul students for paid internships to assist with graphic and product design projects. “We’ve done this before with some of our HBCU partners, like Jackson State, and the students helped create some of our best-selling products,” he said.

Now, let’s go ahead and break some of this down. This isn’t a “Marquette is getting beat by DePaul” blog. The biggest reason why? Larry Birkett is Marquette’s Director of Retail & Licensing for the athletic department. He’s been with Marquette for 25 years, and he’s had that specific title since 2022. Marquette also has a Director of Athletic Business Affairs in Mason Darling, and while his job leans more towards keeping a hand on the tiller of the overall business that is Marquette athletics, you’d have to figure that the “financial planning and policy” part of his job description on the athletic department website would at least wind into the idea of signing a jersey patch sponsorship, one way or another.

In short: There are people in place to think about and work on these types of things, and that’s before you even consider the role of Learfield Sports and their multi-media services for Marquette in all of this.

Here’s where I’m going with all of this, and it’s not “Why doesn’t Marquette have a jersey patch sponsor yet?”

It’s “What is Marquette doing to maximize the value of their future jersey patch sponsor?”

Yes, future, not potential. A jersey patch is coming to a Marquette uniform near you. It might not be in 2026-27, but it is going to happen eventually, and we have to ask what the administration is doing to get the most out of it.

DePaul is doing something innovative with a local business to help the business get some attention and also use the athletic department as a bit of a product development laboratory. They get the paycheck to put the patch on the basketball jerseys, but more than that, they’re getting access to new and better information about what kind of products with collegiate partners are selling like hotcakes lately. That helps the Blue Demons make big executive decisions about what direction to take their marketing and advertising dollars, and on a long enough timeline, the partnership with Desert Cactus has the potential to provide financial benefits to DePaul for years and years to come, possibly even past which point the jersey patch sponsorship still exists.

That’s being creative to activate new revenue streams in a moment in time where every athletic department in the country could use extra money flowing in because of revenue sharing with the athletes. Marquette is not immune to that pressure, and look no further than The Athletic confirming that new men’s basketball transfer Sananda Fru will be picking up at least $3.9 million during the 2026-27 season to understand MU’s place in things.

For now, my question is not “Why doesn’t Marquette have a patch sponsor yet?” and it’s not “When is Marquette getting a patch sponsor?” My question is “What is Marquette doing to maximize the value of the sponsor partnership they will eventually sign?” I’m asking about what inventive and creative ideas are being thrown around the McGuire Center, because an athletic department can not survive on raising ticket prices and mega-donors footing the bill alone. There has to be something else, something new, something interesting in play.

I asked this same question about men’s basketball scheduling back when Duke struck their broadcasting deal with Amazon. For now, I don’t have any answers or signs or whatever you want to call it that Marquette is moving in a creative manner on that or on a jersey patch or on anything else. That’s fine, sometimes deals take a long time to marinate and develop. Immediate answers aren’t crucial here. But the longer we wait, the easier it is to say that a lack of anything creative coming out of the office is a notable problem, and once we get to that point, that problem is going to start growing exponentially.

Follow Anonymous Eagle on social media

Facebook: AnonymousEagle
Instagram: AnonymousEagleSBN
Bluesky: AnonymousEagle

Posted on

The WNBA's future is global. Seattle Storm rookie Awa Fam is what it looks like

Awa Fam is the future.  

Just ask the Seattle Storm, which selected her with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Or ask the FIBA, which tabbed the 6-foot-4 forward as Spain’s “rising star” for the upcoming Women’s Basketball World Cup.  

Fam, 20, will be in good company when the global women’s basketball competition tips off in Berlin, Germany, on Sept. 4. Only three — Czechia, Nigeria and Puerto Rico — of the 16 participating teams won’t feature an active WNBA player.

In an interview with USA TODAY, Fam beamed at the idea of both her worlds colliding on the global stage.  

“I’m excited to speak Spanish with my teammates. I’ll see my (Storm) teammates, too,” Fam said with a laugh as she looked ahead to the tournament.  

Three other Seattle players will compete in the World Cup. Ezi Magbegor and Jade Melbourne will play for Australia and Dominique Malonga for France. The New York Liberty will send a league-high seven players to the tournament.  

It's all evidence of the WNBA becoming more international, which commissioner Cathy Engelbert described as “what’s next,” for the 30-year-old league. Engelbert made that declaration at the 2026 WNBA Draft, the same night Fam realized an aspiration she said she’s held since she was 3 years old — being drafted in the league along with 17 other players born outside of the USA.  

Now, a difficult rookie season winds down with the last-place Storm (8-31) sitting three losses from tying the league record for most in a season. Fam is a bright spot, along with a young core which features 2025 No. 2 overall pick Dominique Malonga and fellow rookie Fla’Jae Johnson.  

“I love Awa,” Johnson told USA TODAY. “Even though I'm a little older than her, I feel like we're on the same vibe. She's so mature.

"But we’re really just learning how to play together and it's so cool. It’s like we’re trying to read each others minds. We be messing up and then we'll get it.”  

Fam's transition to the WNBA 

Fam has lived a double life since she was 15 years old. 

That’s when she joined Spain’s Valencia basket, becoming the youngest to play for the top-tier club. Fam would get out of school at 2 p.m. and travel for a game — Turkey one day, Italy or Berlin the next. All while learning to be a ”normal girl” and a professional on the court.  

“I was 15 years old playing against 30-year-old girls,” Fam said. “I remember it was a really crazy life.”  

The lead up to her delayed WNBA debut was no different. As she opted to rejoin Valencia for the Liga Feminina playoffs after she was drafted, the Storm arranged Zoom calls with assistant coaches to accelerate her acclimation to the WNBA.  

Days after Fam aided her longtime club to a fourth consecutive LF championship win, she made an instant impact for the Storm, coming off the bench in her first contest to record 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting with two rebounds in a 97-85 win over the Washington Mystics on May 24. 

On June 3, 14 days short of her 20th birthday, she earned her first WNBA start — the youngest Storm player to start a game in franchise history. 

Storm building on Big 3

The Storm is swimming in young talent, with Malonga boasting the title of the WNBA’s youngest player last season at 19.  

The French phenom, who made the jump from standout rookie to All-Star reserve this season, is currently leading the Storm in scoring (17 ppg) , rebounding (8.8 rpg) and (1.5) blocks.  

On paper, Malonga and Fam make a formidable frontcourt duo. Fam leads all rookies in rebounding (5.8 per game) and offensive boards (1.9 per game). She also ranks first among rookies in total blocks with 26 on the season and is second among centers in 3-pointers made with 1.4 per game. 

But the Storm’s wealth of bigs doesn’t stop there, with 27-year-old Australian veteran Ezi Magbegor also on the roster. Fam, Magbegor and Malonga have only made one start together this season with a lackluster result, combining for 14 points on 4-for-19 shooting in a blowout loss to the Dallas Wings on Sunday, Aug. 23. 

“It takes time for them to play together and see how that looks,” first-year coach Sonia Raman said. “It’s just a work in progress.”  

Maybe the roster will look different next year. Fam hopes she, Johnson and Malonga are given a chance to keep working at it long-term.  

“We are a really good three,” Fam said. “We really connect on and off the court ... Just let us cook. That's the one thing that I want. I really think that it's going to be super, super great.”  

What to expect in the FIBA World Cup

Malonga couldn’t hide her smile when she told reporters there's already been "a little" trash talk between the Storm’s World Cup-bound players.  

“I’m not going out there to make any friends. I want to win, and so that’s the mindset I’m going with," Malonga added.

She has that chance representing France, which has a whopping eight WNBA players and a chip on their shoulder from narrowly losing Olympic gold to Team USA at the 2024 Paris games. Les Bleues are widely viewed as the biggest threat to the United States’ squad continuing its streak of four consecutive World Cup titles.  

Spain has a difficult path ahead against Japan, Mali and Germany but is the slight favorite to come out of Group A – especially since they beat Germany en route to taking silver at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket champions last year.  

With Fam and Portland Fire draft-and-stash selection Iyana Martin, Spain will pair a new genertion of talent with veterans like Mariona Ortiz, Alba Torrens and Maria Conde.  

“These are really good basketball players,” Fam said of the level of World Cup play. “It's more tactical, more physical ... I really trust in Spain. So we’ll see what’s going to happen.” 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The WNBA's future is global. Seattle Storm rookie Awa Fam is what it looks like

Posted on

Giants WR Malachi Fields' fantasy stock is rising

According to Jordan Raanan, New York Giants WR Malachi Fields could start the season as the team's No. 2 receiver. The team traded up to get him in the third round because they were infatuated with his size, physicality and ability to make contested catches. He has shown all of that in camp.

SOURCE: ESPN.com - Jordan Raanan

Why It Matters: Fields is an intriguing WR5 with an ADP of 229. He could be a steal late in drafts.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giants WR Malachi Fields' fantasy stock is rising

Posted on

Raiders fans are high on Cian Slone

Cian Slone
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 13: Cian Slone #48 and Jahfari Harvey #91 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrate Sloan's sack against the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter of a preseason game at Allegiant Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Cardinals defeated the Raiders 27-14. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Las Vegas Raiders’ 53-man roster is on all of our minds these days.

The team, of course, must establish its initial 53-man regular-season roster by Sunday afternoon’s NFL deadline. So, with that in mind, we dedicated our Tuesday Community Question to the subject. We asked our readers which undrafted rookie has become their favorite this preseason.

Unsurprisingly, the most popular answer was pass-rusher Cian Slone. The North Carolina State product signed with the Raiders with some excitement and he has delivered. Slone has flashed since the offseason and had a strong preseason.

He has a solid chance to make the 53-man roster and if not, he should be part of the team’s practice squad. So, good call, folks.

You can check out the comments to the post here.

Head to the comments section to share your thoughts and join the conversation. You can sign up for a commenting account below and we have full-time moderators to enforce the Community Guidelines.

Cheers and have a great weekend.

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!
Posted on

Why youth sports must prioritize kids over profits | Opinion

The World Cup reignited a familiar debate about American youth sports. At the same time, lawmakers from both parties have introduced legislation aimed at curbing predatory private equity practices, reflecting growing concern over rising costs and shrinking access. Those conversations are connected, and they point to a bigger question: What should youth sports actually be optimized for?

As former NFL players, fathers, and people who have spent our lives around youth athletics, we believe the answer is simple: participation.

We understand why this moment has prompted scrutiny. Youth sports have become more expensive. More complicated. Too often, families feel like they're being asked to spend thousands of dollars before a child has even decided whether they love the game.

Those concerns affect far more than the next generation of athletes and deserve addressing head-on.

But as the national conversation continues, we also believe it's important to distinguish between the practices that deserve criticism and the investments that are helping remove barriers for families. The question isn't simply who is investing in youth sports. It's whether those investments are making it easier or harder for kids to play.

COACH STEVE: Early morning after night game? No problem if you're Ohio's LLWS coach

That's the standard every organization in youth sports should be held to.

Are more kids getting the opportunity to play? Are costs coming down or going up? Is the experience becoming more accessible, or more exclusive?

Some organizations have earned the criticism they're receiving. When families are burdened by escalating fees, pressured into year-round commitments, or made to feel that meaningful participation is only available to those who can afford it, that's a problem.

But it would be a mistake to conclude that every investor, every operator, or every business model shares those incentives.

The reality is that youth sports don't have one problem. They have many.

Rising costs. Volunteer burnout. Aging community infrastructure. Increasing administrative burdens. Pressure to specialize earlier than ever. Families feeling like they have to choose one sport because they simply can't afford two.

Those challenges existed long before private equity entered the conversation, and they won't disappear simply by changing who owns youth sports organizations.

The youth sports debate is missing the bigger issue

What matters are the incentives.

Is investment being used to extract value from families or create more value for them?

Because investment, by itself, isn't inherently good or bad. It depends entirely on what it's trying to accomplish.

Across the country, countless youth leagues are run by volunteers who coach after work, spend weekends organizing schedules, coordinate referees, manage registrations, secure field permits, complete background checks, order uniforms, and answer late-night emails from parents. They're the backbone of youth sports, but they're also under tremendous pressure.

Those community leaders don't necessarily need someone to replace them. They need someone to support them.

If investment provides better technology, lowers administrative burdens, improves safety, creates more consistent experiences, and helps local organizations serve more families at an affordable cost, that's strengthening youth sports, not extracting from it.

REQUIRED READING: LLWS star Kinley Rasmus' next challenge? Playing for the nation's top flag football team

The opposite is true as well. If success is measured by continually asking families to spend more while fewer children can afford to participate, then we've lost sight of what youth sports is supposed to be about.

Because participation should be the scoreboard.

Not tournament revenue.

Not travel miles.

Not the size of the business.

Sports teach lessons that last far longer than any season. They teach resilience after failure. Confidence through preparation. Leadership, accountability, teamwork, discipline, and belonging.

Those lessons aren't reserved for the small percentage of kids who will eventually play in college or professionally.

They're just as important for the child who plays for two seasons and never picks up a ball again.

Every kid deserves the opportunity to experience that.

That's why affordability and accessibility aren't side conversations. They're the foundation.

If families are forced to choose between sports because costs have become prohibitive, or if children are expected to specialize before they've had the chance to simply enjoy competing with friends, everyone loses.

We've both lived this from different perspectives.

As parents, we've watched our own kids discover the joy that comes from being part of a team. We've also experienced the calendar pressures, the travel commitments, and the financial realities that many families are navigating every season.

As former athletes, we know firsthand that playing multiple sports helped shape us, not just as competitors, but as people.

The future of American sports depends on creating more opportunities for kids to play, not fewer.

Whether we're talking about soccer, flag football, basketball, baseball, hockey, volleyball or any other sport, the strongest pipeline isn't built by asking more of the few.

It's built by creating opportunities for the many.

That means supporting the organizations that have earned the trust of their communities—parks and recreation departments, Police Athletic Leagues, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, schools, local volunteers, and professional leagues that are investing in growing participation.

It also means recognizing that thoughtful investment can help those organizations do what they've always wanted to do: reach more kids.

This doesn't have to be a debate between nonprofit versus for-profit or public versus private.

The better question is whether every stakeholder is rowing in the same direction.

Are we making it easier for a child to try a sport for the first time?

Are we reducing unnecessary barriers?

Are we helping local communities thrive?

Are we expanding participation?

The current debate presents an opportunity—not just to scrutinize youth sports, but to rethink what success actually looks like.

For us, the measure of a healthy youth sports system isn't the amount of money flowing through it.

It's the number of kids on the field.

Izell Reese, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, RCX Sports

A seven-year National Football League veteran, Izell Reese leads RCX Sports, where he oversees the operation and expansion of youth sports programs across the country. Under his leadership, RCX has become the official youth sports operator for the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLS, and MLB, delivering professional-grade experiences to local communities. In 2026, RCX Sports was named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list, recognizing its role in transforming access and infrastructure across youth sports.

Reese has been instrumental in the rise of flag football, helping expand NFL FLAG to more than 830,000 participants. He was named a 2023 NFL FLAG Global Ambassador and remains deeply committed to grassroots impact, championing programs that create opportunity and ensure every athlete has the chance to play and compete.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why youth sports must prioritize kids over profits | Opinion

Posted on

From benched, doubted and overlooked, to Super Bowl MVP

It’s easy to simply say Jalen Hurts stinks. Not like a smelly person or anything, but bad at football. Which is a bit of a lazy read. In recent years, he hasn’t exactly fit the mold of a traditional QB and could maybe fairly be called a tush-push merchant, but those labels massively overshadow one of the league’s more unique journeys.

In college at Alabama, Hurts was on an early path to becoming one of the best quarterbacks in a storied program… and then got replaced in the 2018 National Championship. Oddly, it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him. While it initially put him in a dark place where he considered quitting football altogether, he learned to be patient and take advantage of the opportunities when they came. It led to a Heisman finalist recognition at the University of Oklahoma.

When he entered the league with the Philadelphia Eagles, people still doubted him. Thought to be stuck as a backup who would hardly ever see the field. He stayed cool and waited for his shot. When he got it, he thrived. Two Super Bowl appearances in three years and won it all on the second go-around, earning Super Bowl MVP. So yeah, when you factor in the journey, it’s a bit uninspired to simply call the dude trash. He’s a champion after all. So let’s look at the phases of Jalen Hurts that made him who he is.

Posted on

Alec Pierce: Week 1 is the goal

Colts receiver Alec Pierce got back to practice on Thursday, having come off the physically unable to perform list after undergoing offseason ankle surgery.

Pierce said after the session that he’s on schedule with the season quickly approaching.

“Yeah, Week 1 is the goal,” Pierce said, via transcript from the team. “[J]ust first time being back out here, wearing the helmet, playing with the other NFL players, right? So, it's — you got to knock a little bit of rust off, but been working in PT, been working kind of off and on with the trainers. They've been doing a good job preparing me, getting me ready.

“So, just a little different once you get back out here, get timing from Daniel [Jones] and these other NFL arms.”

Though Pierce noted he’s been ramping up throughout camp, the process of getting back on the field was still a little tough on him, mentally.

“You just got to find ways to try and stay in it because you're going to be in those meetings and stuff,” Pierce said. “It’s good to be around the guys. They kind of — they keep your spirits up and stuff because sitting and watching film and watching walk-through, watching practice, like it gets a little monotonous. You want to be out there. You want to be out there helping the team, making plays with the team, working with your brothers. But the guys have been great. They've been checking in with me. Other than just not being out there on the field, everything's been the same.”

Head coach Shane Steichen said it was great to have Pierce back on the field and the team is working to get him ready for Week 1. That’s a good sign for Pierce as he continues his process.

Last season, Pierce caught 47 passes for 1,003 yards with six touchdowns. He’s led the league in yards per reception in each of the last two years.

Posted on

Blackhawks Predicted To Finish 8th In Central Division Again

The 2026 edition of The Hockey News Yearbook is now available. Get it and more here. Included is incredible coverage of some of the game's top storylines, along with breakdowns of each team ahead of the 2026-27 season. 

For the Chicago Blackhawks, they predicted them to come in last place in the Central Division once again. Another 8th-place finish doesn't mean that they didn't improve, as an 8th-place finish a year ago was still an 11-point jump. This year, they are aiming to be in the playoff race for much longer, but it is going to be difficult. 

Part of the mountain is the division that they play in. The Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, and Dallas Stars are all legitimate threats to win the Stanley Cup. The Utah Mammoth are right there too, and this could be the year that they make that jump. 

As for the St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, and Winnipeg Jets, there is a lot of uncertainty. However, all three of them have proven rosters that have finished ahead of Chicago for multiple years in a row. 

Unsurprisingly, Connor Bedard, Patrick Kane, Spencer Knight, and Bowen Byram are the most talked-about players when describing what could go right for Chicago. The expectation is that Kane's presence will help out all of the young players on the team, not just Bedard. With most of the roster in the early days of their careers, it is hard to project winning with so much unknown. 

Eventually, the Blackhawks are going to come out of the rebuild in the Bedard era. Whenever that is, it will come as a surprise at first. Leaders on the team like Connor Bedard, Alex Vlasic, and others have already expressed belief that they will take a step in 2026-27. Does that mean coming out of the Central Division's basement? Only time will tell. 

Image

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive, and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

This Week in Mets Quotes: Gabba Gabba Hey!

Aug 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Sports broadcaster Mike Breen (r) is interviewed by former Major League Baseball player Todd Zeile (l) prior to the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Your 2026 New York Mets: It was an interesting set of circumstances.

“[Gasser] is a low-slot lefty where the ball really rises. It was an interesting set of circumstances for them. Typically, when you lose your starter on the first pitch of the game, you get put in a much worse situation. They had Gasser [pitch] five days ago and he threw [79] pitches. [Today] was literally his [bullpen day]. Not often do you have a starter sitting in the ‘pen to take the ball. … Our lineup was optimized to face the righty today. So you had a lot of matchups that favored Gasser. We didn’t flip it.” -Interim Manager Andy Green [Mets]

Gabba gabba, we accept you, we accept you, one of us.

“I can’t believe I’m sitting here. I’m like a kid in a candy store. You guys have no idea how fun this has been for me tonight. I got to meet Sean Manaea, who I’m such a big fan of. I got to meet Zac Thornton, who I’m so impressed with. This is a big deal — I was on the field!” -Mike Breen [New York Post]

There’s the problem, the Mets spent the offseason putting together a team that put the ball in play but forgot to also make it a really good team.

“The challenge was, [the Brewers] are a really good team that put the ball in play. When you face a team like that, it’s rolling the dice. They are going to put the ball in play. It’s on you to make your best pitches.” -Robert Stock [Mets]

It doesn’t quite feel that way but I ran the numbers and ‘he’s had some nice starts’ and a couple ‘he’d want back’ checks out.

“We just finished up the game right now. We’ll talk about this [pitching staff] and see where our heads are at. [Robert Stock] had some nice starts for us. This is another one I’m sure he would want back.” -Interim Manager Andy Green [Mets]

You know what, Shawn Andy Green is absolutely right. I’m officially dropping the ‘interim manager’ bit.

“Everything [Lindor] has is put on the field to win a baseball game. I think we’re all cognizant of where we are [in the standings], but there was a game to be played with fans that filled the stadium — and gave a crazy roar after that play — and so you just enjoy those moments. It’s one of the reasons you play the game.” – Interim Manager Andy Green [New York Post]

No, I get by with a little help from my friends

“The team has picked me up more times than I’ve picked them up this year. So to be there for the guys, it meant a lot. I’ve been wanting to do that.” -Francisco Lindor [New York Post]

I’m gonna try with a little help from my friends

“Be the best version of myself. Be Francisco Lindor. Play as hard as I can day in and day out. Give everything I got to the guys.” -Francisco Lindor [New York Post]

Do all pitcher’s have this much introspection while they’re on the mound? Is that what Steve Trachsel was doing in-between every pitch?

“I had a moment of realization that I’m in a position where the game could end potentially with one pitch, one swing of the bat. [Senga said of his thought process on the mound.] Seeing the ball like that, it just kind of dawned on me again that that’s the type of role that I’m playing right now.” -Kodai Senga [MLB]

Luis Robert Jr. with some really nice thoughts on the Mets.

“This is a team that will always have a special place in my heart. I keep tabs of the results of the games, and I am really proud to see how they are performing this season.” -Luis Robert Jr. [New York Post]

As the only person that was kind of into Hansel Robles’ whole deal; don’t listen to him Jefry, you do you.

“Certainly, Jefry [Yan] will learn not to jump before the play is over. That’s something he’s still working through. I think the emotions of the moment got him there.” -Andy Green [MLB]

I think we’ve all given the term ‘runway’ enough runway to try to overuse a different buzzword this offseason.

“[Jared Young] always been a good hitter. This is the first time he’s gotten any runway in the big leagues, and he’s been really good. Those are the type of at-bats you have been getting. That’s a legit closer that has really good stuff and another big swing from him.” -Andy Green [New York Post]

/Count Rugen voice/ Get some rest, if you haven’t got your health, you haven’t got anything.

“We’ll see where [Bichette] is when he wakes up in the morning. You never really know how the ankle is until the next day. I’m hoping he is fine.” -Andy Green [Mets]

“I probably should have said something earlier. That’s just a boneheaded mistake on my side. But I am glad the results came back the way they did and it wasn’t worse. It could have been worse if I kept pitching through it.” -Austin Warren [New York Post]

“It was definitely different walking out to the pen the first night but I feel like everyone is stepping up and doing their job. That is all we can ask for right now.” -Austin Warren [New York Post]

Baseball is the best.

“[Mike Breen was working with WNBC radio during the [Mets] ’86 playoff run. And even though Hernandez was known as a great quote and a favorite of the media, Breen was still, as an early career journalist, intimidated.] I called you Mr. Hernandez, which I realize was a mistake at the time. I couldn’t tell you how intimidated I was, first off, because I was standing in front of Keith Hernandez. … You were a great quote back then, writers loved you. But I was 25, probably looked 17, and I was scared.” -Mike Breen [New York Post]

/Obligatory Jeff McNeil joke/

Let’s just say my time here moved me…TO A BIGGER HOUSE!

Posted on

Falcons vs Dolphins Preseason Watch Party

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 26: Tyler Allgeier #25 of the Atlanta Falcons scores a touchdown defended by Kendall Sheffield #41 of the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter in the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Falcons face the Dolphins in the third and final preseason game of the 2026 NFL season. Kevin Knight and Adnan Ikic bring you live coverage through all four quarters, including updates on the Falcons closest position battles, the players to watch during Friday’s game, and a whole lot more.

Fellow Falcoholics, welcome to another episode of The Falcoholic Live!

Watch the stream below or on YouTube

You can also listen to all of our video shows in an audio-only podcast format, available on all your favorite podcast platforms or by using the player below. The podcast typically posts a few hours after the live show records.

If you’re interested in supporting the show, become a Channel Member or check out our Patreon page to unlock access to exclusive perks including Patron Q&A sessions, Discord perks, live shout-outs and more!

Be sure to check out the new community Discord server here! Come chat with your fellow Falcons fans about the show, the team, the NFL draft, and more.

You can watch the show here on The Falcoholic, but we recommend watching on YouTube for the best experience—including full 1080p HD video and access to the live Q&A in the chat. You can also access the show using your smart TV or device using the YouTube app for the real big-screen experience!

We hope you enjoy the show! If you have comments, we’d love to hear them. Send them to us on Twitter (@FalcoholicLive), leave them below, or e-mail the show at falcoholiclive@gmail.com.

Thanks for watching!

Posted on

Packers Film Room, Preseason Week 2: Emptying the Notebook on the Offense

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 21: Green Bay Packers tight end Drake Dabney (49) runs after a catch in the first quarter during a preseason game between the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on August 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

During the season, I tend to dig into either specific plays or look at some of the bigger picture takeaways. Scheme and gameplan and blah blah blah. The preseason is different because those things don’t really matter. I’m more concerned with how individual players looked. So I watch a ton of players, taking notes and gathering clips, then look up and realize I don’t have time to write about them all. What a fool I’ve been! The week is almost over! This week I got a chance to write about Jordan Love and Trey Smack, but then it all went south on me.

So, today, we’re just doing a bit of a data dump. I’ll write about some of the players I watched on offense, throw out some notes and clips and we’ll all move on with our days. Let’s go.

Offense

Isaiah Neyor (80)

Week 1 saw Neyor as a possession receiver. A lot of stuff close to the line. He has speed (ran a 4.4 40 at the Combine), but we didn’t get a chance to see him open it up last week. He had a few snaps running deep this week. I’ll say that it didn’t look quite as explosive as Sturdivant, but his speed was on display more than we saw in week 1. He shows a solid ability to stack the corner when he gets over the top, as well.

One issue I had in Week 1 was Neyor’s blocking. He showed both a willingness to block and an understanding of where to be, but every single block attempt involved him wrapping his arms around his target. We saw some better form in that regard this week.

In the shorter area, he shows some really nice snap at the top of his routes to create separation.

Week 1 saw him working primarily outside. This week saw him in the slot a bit more, and he looked good when put there. If he’s able to improve his blocking form, working as a blocker out of the slot could be a nice spot for him.

We didn’t necessarily get a ton of flashes this week, but he continues to show a well-rounded skillset.

J. Michael Sturdivant (87)

Unlike Neyor, we pretty much only got go routes from Sturdivant in Week 1. His explosion/speed was on full display, but we didn’t see much more than that. This week we got a little more, with Sturdivant showing good, sharp breaks at the top of his shorter routes.

This is something that could really serve him well with more room to work: threaten with his speed, then break off a route.

In this next clip, you can see him attacking the outside shoulder of the defender before snapping back inside. Unfortunately, this is the play he was injured on, so there were limited snaps for Sturdivant this week.

We did get to see a bit of blocking, and the process looked much better than we had previously seen. In Week 1, he was tentative and didn’t always seem to know where he was supposed to be as the play unfolded. This week he attacked the blocking much better.

Drake Dabney (49)

I thought Dabney looked much more comfortable this week. Locked down some of his blocking assignments, and was at the very least a general nuisance when he wasn’t locking up. He knew where to be and wasn’t shy about engaging. Has a little movement as a receiver as well. Not necessarily a field-stretching type of guy, but there might be a little more here than I had previously thought.

McCallan Castles (47)

Looked a lot like Dabney in terms of his approach, but didn’t work quite as well as a receiver. Of the two, I’d certainly prefer Dabney at this point, but Castles showed some nice things as a blocker.

Jager Burton (52)

I didn’t get a chance to highlight Burton on all of these clips. Apologies.

If you’ve seen one clip of Burton this week, it’s this one. And it’s a good one. He’s working as left guard, going against Zach Allen. Burton has good drive off the line, controls the rep and ends up burying Allen. Tremendous rep.

I’m also a sucker for a young guy who is always looking for work. As the rep goes on Burton doesn’t have anyone to block, so he puts a shoulder into #96.

You can also see his strength as he drives as part of a double team. He keeps driving through the whistle, which is always something I like to see.

Unfortunately, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. We saw him win against Zach Allen earlier. Here, he very much does not do that. Allen gets into Burton’s body and easily sheds the block attempt to hit Lloyd.

Down in the low red zone, he fires off and gets out over his skis quickly, allowing #98 to control the rep and easily shed the block.

Burton has showed some really nice stuff that makes me believe he will be a good player, but it doesn’t seem like he’s ready just yet. There are too many reps of him getting overpowered or controlled through the entire rep. Other times it seems like he’s fine, but the defensive lineman is just holding him in place until he needs to shed.

Burton also got beat multiple times by an inside swim move. His recovery move was to turn and lunge with his arms wide, which feels like offensive holding waiting to happen.

Albums listened to: Pedro the Lion – It’s Hard to Find a Friend; Dolly Parton – Ultimate Dolly Parton

Posted on

Bears Question of the Day: Which Historical Roster Cut Stung the Most?

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 26: Trevis Gipson #99 of the Chicago Bears celebrates with Terrell Lewis #52 after forcing a fumble against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of a preseason game at Soldier Field on August 26, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chicago Bears fans are some of the most loyal fans you will ever find. We love our players, and that includes backups, undrafted free agents, practice squad players, and even former players (we miss you, DJ!) But one thing I have noticed about emotions is that the highs are matched by the lows. No better reminder of that than roster cuts. Right?!

With teams required to make cuts to get down to 53-man rosters this Sunday at 5:00 pm CST, it got me thinking about which players I hope make the cut. Then my mind went to which cut stands out above the rest over the years, which is my question to you all!

Since you have been a fan of the Bears, which roster cut was the hardest one to witness?

A few camp legends come to mind. Devin Aromashadu, who eventually made the team at WR, as did another camp hero, Dane Sanzenbacher, but others like OLB James Vaughters were not so lucky. Terrell Lewis is another whom I thought earned his roster spot, only to get released at cutdown day, with Trevis Gipson soon to follow. Tanner Gentry, Daniel Braverman, MyCole Pruitt, Armanti Edwards, Tom Zbikowski, Harvey Unga, Josh Beekman, Brandon Rideau, and even our own Ryan Poles were also notable cuts at the end of camp.

But the hardest one for me to stomach was Terrell Lewis in 2023.

We entered that year with a glaring hole at edge rusher despite signing free-agent Yannick Ngakoue that offseason to a 1-year, $10.5 million deal and eventually trading a future 2nd-round pick for Montez Sweat. But why cut Lewis? He was on fire that pre-season and led the league in sacks and forced fumbles. He would go on to practice for the Eagles but not play another down professionally, so clearly Chicago wasn’t the only one to deem him unworthy of a roster spot, but man – he was looking good for us all camp.

What about you? Who comes to mind as far as one of the most difficult roster cuts of all time?