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Who should start for the Bucks at shooting guard?

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 23: Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat looks to drive toward the basket while being guarded by AJ Green #20 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of the game at Fiserv Forum on February 23, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to Volume II of our “Choose Your Own Adventure” starter series, where we explore the Milwaukee Bucks’ options at each position. Read along, make your choice, and share your pick in the comments—if you dare!

This season, the Bucks will start their best shooting guard in a decade.

Marinate on that.

For a franchise coming out of arguably its best-ever era, this is no small feat.

A decade ago, the Bucks hadn’t won a second title. John Hammond was GM. Jason Kidd was head coach. Jabari Parker averaged 20 a game. So did Giannis—for the first time in his career.

Over the last ten years, in reverse-chronological order, the Bucks’ primary starters at the two have been AJ Green, Andre Jackson Jr., Malik Beasley, Grayson Allen, Donte DiVincenzo, Wes Matthews, Malcolm Brogdon, and Tony Snell. Brogdon and DiVincenzo aside—and there are even arguments there—the archetype has been clear: 3-and-D, low usage spacer. Considering the staples in the other starting slots, this was logical. Of course, in reality, it’s more often than not been 3-or-D, especially over the last five years. And, honestly, the Bucks haven’t had a whole lot of options.

Now, Milwaukee has an abundance of choice. Need a 20-plus per Boy Wonder, who can create off the dribble and hit from the logo? They’ve got that. Rather unleash a blue-chip rookie with the potential to become a guy? Got that too. What about rolling with a secondary playmaker, circumventing traditional wisdom for an overpaid vet, or reverting back to the status quo with someone who can snipe from the farm and sky? Check, check, check.

But with so many options, who should it be?

Disclaimer: Ryan Rollins isn’t listed below. Perhaps he should be, he can certainly play the position. But it’s a safe enough bet that he’ll be starting at the point—at least as far as I see it.

Start your adventure, go on to OPTION 1.

1. The whodidit: Tyler Herro

The logic for starting Tyler Herro is simple: he’s instantly the best two-guard the Bucks have had since Michael Redd and the best option the Bucks currently have as a go-to offensive option. A flat-out scorer, Herro can and does hit from everywhere on the court—70% from 0-3 feet, 56% from 3-10, 52% from 10-16, 42% from 16-3P, and 38% from three (per Basketball-Reference)—leading to an elite true shooting percentage of 60%. But he’s more than just a shooter. Herro is also a legitimate shot creator for others, especially in a secondary playmaking role (career 21% assist percentage), and turns it over less frequently (10.2% turnover percentage) than all of the other ball handling guards on the roster—and even AJ “I don’t dribble” Green.

Stats aside, Herro is the most proven commodity the Bucks have at the two and you just know he wants a revenge tour after being the subject of trade rumours for what feels like the entirety of his career. Fostering that, inflating his output leaning on his winning tradition and monetising celebrating his homecoming, might be the best long-term play for the Bucks too.

If you need someone to talk to (especially online), choose Herro. If not, turn to OPTION 2.

2. The blue-chipper: Brayden Burries

I’m not one to spit hyperbole—or overreact to summer league—but if you’ve seen Brayden Burries in action with a Bucks jersey on it’s hard not to fall in love with his game. Dude just has it. On or off ball, Burries is a straight killer—a wrecking ball on the way to the cup and a marksman from deep.

“Buzzer-Beater Burries” already showed he’s not afraid of the moment. And with offence so sweet you can see him morph into Book and defence so mean you might confuse him with Jrue, he’s the perfect guy to build around moving forward. He just needs the time—and a starting gig. In fact, Burries has so much potential that he should only ever be written about in future tense.

If you’ve got a ladder to get to his floor, choose Burries. If not, go to OPTION 3.

3. The secondary playmaker: Kevin Porter Jr.

Talk about a whirlwind. After being traded for MarJon Beauchamp before the trade deadline in 2025, Porter has gone from backup to starter to injured on opening night to playing out of his mind to injured again to balling out (but forgetting how to shoot) to being shut down for good to the operating theatre. Caught your breath?

Now, with the Bucks reloaded in the backcourt, Porter finds himself on the outer once again. In fact, despite being arguably the team’s best player last year, his decision to pick up his player option was a curious one, with the general feeling of (a) surprise, thinking he could have gotten something more lucrative (salary or duration) elsewhere, or (b) disenchantment, thinking we’ve had that experience and it’s time to move on.

Anyway, I digress. Porter is a Buck and he’s still one of the most talented players on the roster (if not the most). And while not the shooter you’d like to see at the two, he’s perhaps the best combination of scorer (17.4 PPG), playmaker (7.4 APG, 33.8% assist percentage), and defender (2.2 SPG, third in the league; 4.3 DRPG, 14.6% defensive rebounding percentage) the Bucks have at the position. Now that’s a reason to start him.

If youlike your offence with a side of chaos, stick with Porter. If not, turn to OPTION 4.

4. The Klutch one: Gary Trent Jr.

This time last year, Gary Trent Jr. was the third-ranked Buck in our Ranking the Roster series. As it turns out, it was for the worse. But while we were wrong—so, so wrong—Trent isn’t the drongo he showcased last season, either. And, in case you missed it, he did just re-up with Milwaukee for four years and $64m—so at least someone in the Bucks front office thinks he’s pretty good too!

Realistically, Trent shouldn’t be the Bucks’ starting shooting guard. But he might be the purest two on the squad, at least in the traditional sense of the position. And this is his case. Herro certainly has more positional versatility, having played significant portions of his career at the point (51% of playing time in 2023-24; 38% in 2024-25) and at small forward (20% last season). Burries and Porter are far more suited to ball-dominant roles too. Trent, however, is purely an off-ball threat, recording a lower average time of possession than every Buck sans Gary Harris, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Amir Coffey, and Alex Antetokounmpo. It’s a good thing too—have you seen him try to break guys down off the dribble? At his best, Trent is also better than AJ Green and he has come up Klutch clutch in the playoffs, which is why we all ranked him so highly to begin with.

If you’ve got a firm handshake, choose Trent—just know it might come back to bite you!Otherwise, move on to OPTION 5.

5. The status quo: AJ Green

Some scares are of the jump variety—they catch you off guard (pun intended) and you can’t do anything about them. AJ Green starting at the two for the 2026-27 Milwaukee Bucks would be one of those.

But first the positives. Green is an elite shooter and floor spacer and, somehow, he always seems to find himself in the most effective Bucks lineups—Giannis, Green, Porter, Bobby Portis, and Ryan Rollins five-man lineups recorded a net rating of +30.7 last year, while Giannis, Green, Rollins, Myles Turner, and Kyle Kuzma recorded a +28.3. And before you ask, it’s not all Giannis either; Green, Porter, Portis, Rollins, and Jericho Sims lineups recorded a +20.8. It’s also important to acknowledge that, last season, Green was put in too many disadvantageous situations where he was miscast as a three.

Still, having him start at the two over Herro or Burries or even Porter would be quite the shock to the system and a terrifying sign of things going awry in Milwaukee.

QUICK! Make a decision, you’re near the end. Choose Green if you’re stuck in the past (and don’t like any of the alternatives). Otherwise, pull a rabbit out of your hat and tell us who it is in the comments.

THE END

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PensBurgh Top-25 Under 25: No. 7 Liam Ruck

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman looks on as Liam Ruck of Canada is drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins with the twenty-second overall pick during day one of the 2026 NHL Draft on June 26, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Making his debut on the Top 25 Under 25 lists this year, the Penguins’ 2026 first round pick Liam Ruck checks in at number seven with a lot of hype and excitement for what could be a very bright future.

Pensburgh Top 25 Under 25: Graduates and Departed players in 2025
Top 25 Under 25: The best of the rest
#25: Chase Pietila
#24: Ryan Miller
#23: Finn Harding
#22: Peyton Kettles
#21: Zam Plante
#21: Brady Peddle
#20: Melvin Fernstrom
#19: Tanner Howe
#18: Tomas Galvas
#17: Pierce Mbuyi
#16: Jake Livanavage
#15: Owen Pickering
#14: Tristan Broz
#13: Avery Hayes
#12: Ville Koivunen
#11: Hendrix Lapierre
#10: Markus Ruck
#9: Mikhail Ilyin
#8: Joel Blomqvist

#7: Liam Ruck, RW

2025 Ranking: n/a

Age: 18(February 21, 2008)

Acquired Via: 2026 NHL Draft, 1st round, 22nd overall

Height/Weight: 6’0”, 177 pounds

Elite Prospects resume:

The Penguins’ 2026 draft will likely be looked back on with a huge influence on what happens in the future with Liam and Markus Ruck. Liam, the right handed version of the ‘mirror’ twins, finished second in the WHL in scoring in 2025-26. Markus, a leftie, led the WHL in scoring. They mirrored in the NHL draft, Markus was drafted in the second round, Liam went 17 picks earlier in the first round, both getting their names called by the Penguins.

It pretty much goes without saying that the two brothers have other-worldly chemistry developed over their first 18 years spent together and it shows up often on the hockey rink. The amount of plays they can make between one another, feeding the puck and drawing their opponents away is something special.

There is, of course, a blueprint for success in the NHL with twin magic. Daniel and Henrik Sedin were staples in Vancouver from 2000-18. It’s a little too soon to compare the Rucks to the Sedins beyond the obvious, considering the Sedin boys were a notch above – drafted second and third overall in 1999 and then quickly into the NHL. That won’t be the case for the Rucks with the absolute elite pedigree (Liam lasted until the 39th pick in his draft) and their timeline will be different – the Rucks are planning on staying in the WHL in their draft+1 and then both are committed to the University of North Dakota in 2027-28. Both Sedin’s also won an NHL Art Ross scoring title, which clearly only a handful of the very best players ever do.

There is enough commonalties to tie them together. Liam, is more the Daniel version as more of the pure goal scorer between the two twins. Brother Markus is more of the Henrik of the equation as the natural setup player that racks up assists.

Although clearly obviously to split and isolate on just one twin at a time, today’s profile is on Liam, the first round pick. In addition to the twin chemistry bonus added along the way, Liam is known for his elite shot, overall gifted intelligence in the offensive zone for reading plays and creating them and a strong competitive drive. He’s a slick, dynamic player that has the shooting release to score frequently. There’s a certain clinical element to his game, as can be seen in the highlights. The puck often isn’t on his stick very long before he snaps it into the net and is no stranger from working his way close to generate great chances.

“I think I’m pretty good with kind of getting into those holes to get into a scoring area, and when you’re playing with good playmakers, they’re going to find you, and I think I found that,” Ruck said on draft night. “I don’t think my shot is the (hardest) yet, but I think it’s knowing that it’s something I can work on, and once it gets a little harder, I think it’ll be even more deadly.”

The metrics for what will need to improve and develop are standard for most freshly drafted 18 years old. Ruck is only 174 pounds, he’s not the best or swiftest skater on the ice. Adding strength and continuing to grow into a pro-level skater will be paramount items to work on, as it is for just about everyone in his peer class. It’s the slow growth of morphing into an adult body and becoming capable of competing at the top level against fully grown men that can’t be rushed.

The education has already begun at 2026 prospect development camp.

“I’m learning so much on and off the ice,” Ruck said in July. “Like eating habits, what to eat, supplements to take, how to put on good weight. But also learning little details on the ice from the skating and skills coaches. Everyone here, there’s a great support staff, and I’m trying to remember everything they give me, because it’s a lot [laughs], but it’s so helpful.”

The Penguins bolstered the change by splitting up Markus and Liam on different summer camp teams.

“It’s really neat. It’s interesting. I’m learning while getting to know them, but the whole organization is really excited. The way it played out in the draft was really cool to watch,” said Tom Kostopoulos, Penguins Director of Player Development. “But they are different individuals, so I think we also got to talk about them and understand that in camp here, we’re trying to separate them a little bit on different teams and stuff, just so they get to know some more of the players and staff and that.”

As to be expected for a player the Penguins selected in the first round, it’s all positive right now.

“It’s not just the talent,” GM Kyle Dubas said on draft night about Liam. “It’s the talent plus the enthusiasm and the intelligence and how much he loves playing and contributing to a contending team and playing well in the playoffs for them. So, it was a number of different things that just made him what we felt was a great fit as a Pittsburgh Penguin.”

“I want to be a little more explosive with my skating,” Ruck said. “For me, just the off-ice stuff is more important than the on-ice stuff right now. I think knowing that it’s important, and getting the chance to work with staff in Pittsburgh, I think it’s going to be a good fit.”

The Pens are counting on that for the future the Rucks will be a big part of it.

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The Lakers won the breakup with LeBron James, and they will be better than the Sixers

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 18: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In the first episode of Season 3 of How I Met Your Mother, the primary storyline revolves around breakups, and the idea that every time two people split there is a winner and loser. 

If the 2026 offseason was HIMYM, the big breakup that occurred this offseason would be the divorce that transpired between the most storied franchise in league history (the Los Angeles Lakers) and (probably) its greatest player (LeBron James) after eight years of being happily married. 

To most people, it seems like James won the breakup. After all, the Philadelphia 76ers, James’ new significant other, just assembled the league’s latest superteam in a conference that is much more manageable. Meanwhile, the Lakers are left to deal with the two behemoths (the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder) out West. 

However, I’m here to tell you that, by losing James, the Lakers got way better, and, in turn, won the breakup. 

How The Lakers Got Better Without James

Listen, this isn’t some Skip Bayless inspired anti-James propaganda. As I noted before, James is probably the best player to ever grace the hardwood, and he was certainly the most productive 41 year old of all-time last season. 

With that said, we have enough of a sample size now to say that James and Luka Doncic were an imperfect fit. According to PBP Stats, the Lakers were better when only one of the two jumbo ball handlers was on the floor than when they shared the court together. 

At the end of the day, both James and Doncic are better when a team is being molded in their likeness, rather than when they need to placate to others’ wants and needs. 

We saw a couple of years ago when the 2023-24 Dallas Mavericks went to the NBA Finals what the Platonic Ideal for a Doncic team would look like. A second fiddle who knows how to oscillate between playing on and off the ball (Kyrie Irving), wings/forwards who will do Doncic’s dirty work (Derrick Jones Jr., PJ Washington, Josh Green), shooters (Tim Hardaway Jr.), and centers who can protect the rim and catch lobs (Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II).

The Lakers haven’t perfectly imitated this formula (more on this in a bit), but they have come pretty close. While not possessing quite the same resume, Austin Reaves does a pretty serviceable Irving impression. Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Cameron Carr (an excellent choice by the Lakers with the 24th overall pick, by the way), and Jarred Vanderbilt are all excellent athletes with the desire to do Doncic’s bidding on defense. Grimes, Collin Sexton, and Sandro Mamukelashvili are all ready to let it rip from downtown (Sexton also gives you some nice regular season innings eating as a creator). And Walker Kessler, Los Angeles’ big ticket signing, is going to do his best to replicate the value of Doncic’s former twin tower pick-and-roll partners. 

Last season, the Lakers’ best lineup that played over 200 non-garbage time possessions featured Doncic, Reaves, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton. That group outscored opponents by 23.3 points per 100 possessions (92nd percentile, per Cleaning the Glass). 

Doncic and Reaves are still there, and it wouldn’t take much arguing to convince someone that a trio of Kessler/Grimes/Carr (or whoever you prefer in that fifth spot) wouldn’t be more potent than the triumvirate of Ayton/Hachimura/Smart. Plus, you no longer have to worry about laboring through minutes where Doncic is forced to share the floor with another uber-high-usage ball handler. The bottom line is that we already have proof of concept that the model the Lakers have built is conducive to winning. 

The Lakers Will Be Better Than The 76ers Next Season

According to FanDuel, the 76ers odds of winning 50 or more games this season are set at -115 (an implied probability of 53.5%), while the Lakers are set at +250 (28.6%). So, the consensus view seems to be that the 76ers are better than the Lakers. 

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I will concede that the 76ers have more raw talent than the Lakers. But to win in this league, you need talent, depth, and fit. So many times over the last few years we’ve seen teams try to stack stars, only to crash and burn because their skillsets overlapped too much and they sacrificed so much of their salary cap to put them together that the players behind them aren’t good enough to fill the cracks. 

This iteration of the Lakers isn’t a super team, but they do have a top five-ish player, a borderline All-Star, and a cavalcade of versatile chess pieces to slot around them. Their roster certainly makes a lot more sense than the team that James left them for. Now, I’m not saying that they are a lock to be better than the 76ers, but where oddsmakers currently have these two teams does not paint the proper picture. 

Are The Lakers A True Inner Circle Title Contender?

The Lakers are going to be really, really good. They have a good blend of talent, depth, and fit. The issue is that a handful of other teams have a better mix of those three variables. 

As of right now, I’d say that the Spurs, Thunder, New York Knicks, and Toronto Raptors (if the Kawhi Leonard trade ends up going through) are all firmly better than them. I’ll also hear arguments for the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Indiana Pacers. 

The big thing holding this group back is their lack of a true power forward. One who can hit open shots, attack closeouts, handle various wing assignments, and use their size and length to offer some secondary rim protection. They’ve managed to almost perfectly copy that Mavericks team that won the West in 2024 (Doncic, Reaves is Irving, Grimes is Jones Jr., Kessler is Gafford/Lively), but they need their own version of Washington. 

Vanderbilt can check those boxes defensively, but he’s a complete negative on the offensive side of the floor. Ditto with Thybulle. Mamukelashvili has size and skill, but lacks the lateral mobility to be trusted shadowing high-level forwards. Carr is too short and too unproven. 

Until this problem is addressed, either via trade or unexpected emergence, the Lakers will be a tier below the true inner circle of title contenders – meaning that they will need more than a couple of lucky bounces to reach, let alone win, the NBA Finals. Still, this team projects to be pretty darn scary, which should be enough for them to win their breakup with James. 

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Blue Jays vs. Rays prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for August 20

The Rays (76-50) and the Blue Jays (62-66) wrap up their three-game series this afternoon in St. Petersburg.

The teams have split the first two games of this series with Tampa winning last night, 7-6. Yandy Diaz cracked a two-run homer in the first to pace the attack and Drew Rasmussen was good enough to earn his sixth straight win as the Rays won for the ninth time in twelve games against the Jays this season. Alejandro Kirk continues to swing a hot bat for the Jays. The backstop went yard for the second straight game and extended his hitting streak to eight games in the process (14-33). Even with the loss yesterday, the Jays are 7-3 in their last ten games and just a game back of the final Wild Card spot. The Rays continue to set the pace in the AL East and the entire American League. They own the best record in the AL and lead the division by five games over the Yankees.

 

This afternoon, Toronto is expected to hand the ball to veteran Shane Bieber (4-2, 4.99 ERA) and Ian Seymour (9-3, 4.11 ERA) gets the start for Tampa Bay. Bieber’s season has been a roller coaster. The former AL Cy Young winner has shown flashes of the pitcher who dominated hitters earlier in his career, but consistency has been elusive. Specifically over his last four starts, Bieber has allowed one earned run twice but four and five runs respectively in the other two starts. The optimists in the crowd will put more faith in his most recent start. Last Friday, Bieber allowed just four hits and one run over six innings against the Yankees. Seymour has been dependable for the Rays this season. He has finished six innings over four of his last five starts. Seymour has allowed eight earned runs in 28.2 innings across those five starts. He has struck out 36 over those last five appearances.

 

Lets dive further into tonight’s game and find a sweat or two.

 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

 

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

 

Game Details and How to Watch: Blue Jays vs. Rays

 

  • Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026
  • Time: 1:10PM EST
  • Site: Tropicana Field
  • City: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Sportsnet, Rays.TV

 
 

Peacock offers one of the most comprehensive live sports streaming lineups available today, bringing together the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, Premier League, NCAA football, NCAA basketball, golf, motorsports, and major global sporting events in a single service.

 

The Latest Odds: Blue Jays vs. Rays

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Toronto Blue Jays (+152), Tampa Bay Rays (-163)
  • Spread: Blue Jays +1.5 (-152), Rays -1.5 (+125)
  • Total: 7.5 runs

 

Probable Starting Pitchers – Blue Jays vs. Rays for August 20

  • Blue Jays: Shane Bieber
    Season Totals: 48.2 IP, 4-2, 4.99 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 37K, 24 BB
  • Rays: Ian Seymour
    Season Totals: 96.1 IP, 9-3, 4.11 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 115K, 31 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Blue Jays vs. Rays

 

  • Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero, and Cedric Mullins have each gone yard once in their careers against Shane Bieber
  • Ernie Clement is 4-11 in his career against Ian Seymour
  • Andres Gimenez and Alejandro Kirk have each homered against Seymour in their respective careers
  • Yandy Diaz has hit in 10 straight games (19-43)
  • Chandler Simpson has also hit in 10 straight games (19-44)
  • Andres Gimenez saw his four-game hitting streak snapped last night (0-4)
  • Alejandro Kirk has hit safely in 8 straight games (14-33) including 3 HRs and 9 RBIs
  • Kazuma Okamoto has hit in 5 straight games (5-19)

 

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

 

Top Betting Trends & Insights: Blue Jays vs. Rays

  • The Jays are 62-66 on the Run Line this season
  • The Rays are 71-55 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 64 times in Toronto’s 128 games this season (64-60-4)
  • The OVER has cashed 58 times in Tampa’s 126 games this season (58-63-5)

 

Expert picks & predictions: Blue Jays vs. Rays

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

 

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

 

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

 

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s game between the Jays and the Rays:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Rays on the Run Line.
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 7.5

 

 

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Willson Contreras is wrong about running out grounders, but not for the reason the Red Sox fans who booed him think

BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 19: Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox bats during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Willson Contreras had some interesting comments following yesterday’s 7-6 loss to the D-Backs in which an angry contingent of Fenway fans booed him for not running hard up the first base line during his tenth inning groundout. But before we get to the quotes, here’s a look at the play just to make sure everybody’s up to speed:

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Immediately after he arrived back in the dugout, the fuming first baseman engaged with one of the more aggressive fans and had them removed from the ballpark.

After the game, Chris Cotillo of MassLive got the follow quotes from Contreras regarding the incident:

“If you’re a smart fan, you know what’s going on,”

“I’m not gonna get hurt running on a ground ball. If you’re a real fan and you know baseball, there’s no case for me to hustle out of the box.”

“I’m not 100%. We never are, but I’m taking care of my leg. If I have to run, I push it a little bit. If I don’t, my manager has my back. I talked to him and he gave me permission to do whatever it takes to take care of my legs.”

“I was feeling better until last night when I full-stretched my leg and it grabbed me a little bit. My manager knows that.”

On one hand, Contreras is absolutely right. No single groundout is worth hustling over if it means risking blowing out your leg, particularly if you’re unlikely to beat it out anyway. It’s far more prudent to nurse it where he can and save the more taxing efforts for high leverage moments. In this larger context, it all makes sense.

Or, at least it would make sense if the Red Sox were in a slightly different place in the standings. Because while the philosophy holds water while zooming out from an individual play to an entire game, it all gets flipped on its head once you zoom out further from the perspective of an individual game to the remaining season as a whole.

Right now, thanks largely to the gluttonous owners and their absurdly bloated playoff structure, the Red Sox find themselves in the rather ridiculous position of being both far enough behind Tampa for the division lead that they’re extremely unlikely to catch them, but also far enough ahead of the third Wild Card cutoff that they’re extremely unlikely to fall out of a postseason spot. They’re so far removed from a meaningful tension point, Fangraphs gives them a 95.1 percent chance to make the playoffs, but just a 2.7 percent chance to win the division. In other words, there’s a 92.4 percent chance they’re going to end up in that best-of-three Wild Card round.

Circling back to Contreras and his leg, if we’re going to apply the principle of giving up on certain plays with a low likelihood of mattering in favor of long-term health, shouldn’t we apply that same concept to the season as a whole? More to the point: If Willson Contreras can only run some of the time, why isn’t he on the IL?

If his leg is bothering him enough that he needs to (rightfully) manage it on certain low leverage, low probability plays within a game, why aren’t the Red Sox demanding he do the same on certain low leverage, low probability games within a season?

Unfortunately, the single most important thing Contreras can do to help the team right now is be as ready to go as possible for a best-of-three series starting on September 29th. I detest that MLB has come to this, but it’s the reality of being in an oversaturated playoff field. If this was 20 years ago, with just one Wild Card available, the Red Sox and Yankees would be locked in a highly captivating duel for the last crumb on the table. Every game would matter, animosity would be building, and we’d be scoreboard watching like a hawk for six weeks.

In that world, Contreras’ approach of playing through injury in this manner would be on the money. But we don’t live in that world anymore. Instead, we’re basically sitting around seeing how healthy everybody can get for a best-of-three series at the end of September. (I can’t tell you how angry this makes me as a baseball fan!)

In any case, the Red Sox are already playing the “get ready for September 29th” game with Justin Slaten and Garrett Whitlock, who are both on the IL. And the funny thing is, not having either of them around to pitch in the top of the tenth yesterday was a whole hell of a lot more impactful in terms of why they lost that game than Contreras not running out his grounder. So if we’re going to swim in those waters, why be inconsistent about it?

Oh, and if your concern here has anything to do with the bottom falling out in a potential Contreras absence, don’t worry about it. This group has already proven they can handle the ship in short bursts without their stars. Since July 1st, Contreras has missed or left 11 games from either suspension, sickness, injury or rest, and the Sox are 10-1 in those contests.

Ultimately, the bottom line is this: Contreras is either healthy enough to run down the first base line consistently or he’s not, and if he’s not, he shouldn’t be in these games. They’re not important enough. (Thanks MLB!)

Lastly, the Red Sox medical staff has already had a disastrous year in terms of diagnosing the initial severity of injuries, and if this season ends up crashing and burning in part because Willson Contreras ends up out for the year on an injury that could have healed with rest, I’m going to be a whole lot angrier than the fans who were booing Contreras at Fenway Park yesterday.

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Bayern Munich, NHL announce partnership

20 August 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Hockey, Soccer: Joint press conference by FC Bayern Munich and the National Hockey League (NHL). John-Jason Peterka (left to right), a player for the Boston Bruins; Alphonso Davies, a player for FC Bayern Munich; and Leon Draisaitl, a player for the Edmonton Oilers, pose in their jerseys at the press conference. Photo: Matthias Balk/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTICE: In accordance with the regulations of the Bundesliga and the German Football Association (DFB), it is prohibited to use or allow the use of photographs taken in the stadium and/or during the game in the form of sequential images and/or video-like photo series. (Photo by Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Per a release from FCBayern.com, Bayern Munich and the National Hockey League are teaming up.

The two sporting giants have announced a strategic, multi-year partnership designed to grow the NHL in Germany while strengthening Bayern Munich’s presence in North America.

The collaboration will connect football and hockey fans through digital campaigns, co-branded content and merchandise, street hockey events in Munich, watch parties, Allianz Arena activations, youth programs, hospitality experiences and player appearances.

The partnership was unveiled at Säbener Straße with Alphonso Davies joined by German NHL stars Leon Draisaitl and JJ Peterka.

Rouven Kasper called it a partnership that can “set a new benchmark” for what cross-sport collaborations can achieve, while NHL President Keith Wachtel described Germany as one of the league’s most important international growth markets.

“FC Bayern is renowned for constantly breaking the mould – and we are very excited about this special partnership with the NHL. By developing ideas together with one of the most tradition-steeped leagues in world sport, the connection of our respective regions will create unique synergies on a wide variety of levels, in sports and beyond. We are creating a platform that promises long-term value for both partners and sets a new benchmark in terms of what cross-sport collaborations can achieve,” said Kasper.

Wachtel was equally excited about the partnership.

“Germany is one of the most important international growth markets for the NHL, and FC Bayern is one of the most famous and respected sport brands in the world. Through the combination of the NHL’s passion for ice hockey with FC Bayern’s extraordinary reach and closeness to fans, we have a massive strategic opportunity to get more people interested in our sport, deepen the connection to existing fans and create one-of-a-kind experience,” Wachtel stated.

And there is an exciting bonus for German hockey fans: Munich will host two NHL regular-season games during the 2027/28 season, featuring the Boston Bruins and Munich-born Peterka. Cologne will also host two games involving the Edmonton Oilers and Cologne native Draisaitl.

Football and hockey. Bayern Munich and the NHL.

This could be a fascinating partnership to watch develop.

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Cox customers can finally watch the Dodgers on SportsNet LA

Orel Hershiser and John Hartung speak during the launch of SportsNet LA on Feb. 25, 2014, in El Segundo.
Orel Hershiser and John Hartung speak during the launch of SportsNet LA on Feb. 25, 2014, in El Segundo. (Jerod Harris / Getty Images)

Thirteen years ago, on the final Sunday in September, Skip Schumaker struck out. It was the last out in the last game of the regular season.

For the Dodgers, no big deal: They had won the National League West, and the playoffs were four days away.

For Dodgers fans that subscribed to Cox Communications, it turned out to be the start of a bizarre and protracted blackout that cost viewers the final years of Vin Scully and the golden years of three World Series championships.

After 4,560 days, the blackout is over.

Read more:California regulators approve $34.5-billion Charter-Cox merger

On Friday, for the first time in 13 years, Cox subscribers within the Dodgers’ broadcast territory will be able to watch the team on their local television home. Fans can find SportsNet LA on Channel 63 in Orange County, Channel 54 in Palos Verdes, Channel 36 in Santa Barbara and Channel 50 in Las Vegas.

How did this finally come to pass? Those channels no longer belong to Cox.

Charter Communications, the company responsible for getting SportsNet LA on as many cable, satellite and streaming options as possible, on Thursday closed its $34.5-billion purchase of Cox.

For Dodgers fans, the takeaway is this: It no longer matters that Cox did not want to pay Charter for the rights to air SportsNet LA. Charter made the 13 years of that moot by buying Cox.

Charter offers broadcast service under the Spectrum brand.

In 2013, with the team in the final year of its local television agreement with Fox Sports, the Dodgers announced it would launch a team-owned channel the following year.

Read more:Shaikin: MLB’s wild pitch: Using fan-despised TV blackouts as leverage against players

In exchange for the rights to market and distribute that SportsNet LA channel, Time Warner Cable agreed to pay the Dodgers $8.35 billion over 25 years. It was the last great regional sports network deal, with traditional broadcast audiences about to fragment amid the rise of streaming and cord-cutting.

The guaranteed rights fees are as sure of a revenue stream as anything in baseball, and the Dodgers’ success amid all that cash is one of the triggers for major league owners in their push for a salary cap.

However, the great regional sports network deals relied on cable and satellite subscribers paying for every channel in a bundle, most of which viewers never watched.

With DirecTV leading the resistance, cable and satellite providers balked at signing up for SportsNet LA: a few dimes per month per subscriber for a news or entertainment channel was fine, but they drew the line at $5 per month subscriber for a baseball channel.

No major Los Angeles outlet besides Time Warner Cable carried SportsNet LA until 2016, and then only because Charter bought Time Warner Cable. Even then, less than half the households in the Los Angeles market could get SportsNet LA.

In 2020, DirecTV and AT&T struck a deal with Charter, not so much to liberate Dodgers fans as to help the parties maintain a shrinking base of subscribers amid a proliferation of video options.

“I think I can speak for a lot of people who will say this is, maybe, long overdue,” Dodgers star Justin Turner said then.

Six years later, as a longtime Cox subscriber excited to see SportsNet LA for the first time, your humble correspondent can say this: I think I can speak for a lot of people who will say this is definitely long overdue.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Little League World Series pitch count rules explained

Every pitcher in the Little League World Series works under a hard limit. Once a 12-year-old reaches 85 pitches in a game, he or she comes off the mound, and how many pitches they threw determines how many days they have to sit before they can pitch again.

The rules come from the Little League rulebook. They apply the same way in Williamsport as they do on any field in the country. Managers plan around them from the first day of the tournament, because a double-elimination bracket rewards teams with a third and fourth pitcher more than teams with one good arm.

Little League moved to pitch counts in 2007, replacing a system that limited pitchers by innings. Under the old rules a 12-year-old could throw well past 100 pitches in a six-inning game, a number big league starters rarely reach. A 2011 University of North Carolina study commissioned by Little League found the program cut shoulder injury risk among pitchers ages 8 to 13 by half.

Here is how the limits, the rest chart and the catcher restrictions work:

How many pitches can a Little League pitcher throw?

Limits go by league age, not calendar age.

  • Ages 13 through 16: 95
  • Ages 11 and 12, the World Series division: 85 pitches
  • Ages 9 and 10: 75
  • Ages 7 and 8: 50

When a pitcher hits the number they're done. The one wrinkle is that they can finish the batter they're facing, staying in until that hitter reaches base or is retired or the third out ends the inning. So you'll occasionally see a kid finish with 89 in a game that caps at 85, and nothing is wrong.

Warm-up pitches don't count. Only what a pitcher throws to a hitter counts.

How many days of rest does a pitcher need?

Rest runs on calendar days and starts the day after the game.

  • 66 to 85 pitches: four days
  • 51 to 65: three days
  • 36 to 50: two days
  • 21 to 35: one day

Stretch that across a 12-day tournament and the problem shows up fast. Throw 70 on a Wednesday and you're not available again until Monday. An ace can win a team one game and leave it thin for the next three.

Nobody pitches on three calendar days in a row, whatever the counts say. And once a pitcher leaves the mound, they can't come back to it later in the same game.

The catcher rules

The pitching limits don't stop at the mound. Little League recognizes the catchers throwing as heavy arm work as well. The two positions are regulated together.

Three rules govern it.

A pitcher who throws 41 or more pitches can't catch that day. A player who catches four innings or more can't pitch that day. And a player who catches three innings or fewer and then moves to the mound and throws 21 or more pitches, can't go back behind the plate.

Catch more than three innings and you cannot pitch that day. The cutoff is strict. Three innings plus a single pitch in the fourth is enough to trigger the rule.

What happens if a team breaks the rule?

If a manager leaves a pitcher in past their limit, or brings them back without the required rest, the other team can protest.

Every game has an official pitch count recorder. That person has to give the current count to either manager or any umpire on request, and has to tell the umpire-in-chief the moment a pitcher reaches their limit. Whatever the recorder has is the count. What a coach has, or a parent has, doesn't matter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Little League World Series pitch count rules explained

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Can a managerial merry-go-round in Serie A stop Inter’s dominance?

Milan, Napoli and Atalanta all have new head coaches as Italian football hopes to return to the spotlight

And so, calcio’s “third apocalypse” has passed. A lot of Italians enjoyed the World Cup more than they expected. Without a team to cheer for, again, a country turned its attention to different sports. And found its athletes dominating them.

On the day Spain defeated Argentina in New Jersey, Kimi Antonelli, the first Italian to win a Formula One race in 20 years, extended his lead in the standings by triumphing again at the Belgian Grand Prix. A week before that, Jannik Sinner defended his men’s singles title at Wimbledon.

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Jake Bauers, ascending

Jul 3, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

I’m writing on August 19, and Jake Bauers has a 146 OPS+ in 452 plate appearances. The last time a Milwaukee Brewer had a 146 wRC+ in a season in which they had even 350 plate appearances was in 2019, when Christian Yelich was in the second of his back-to-back MVP-caliber seasons.

Of course, there’s a good chunk of season left, so we don’t know how things will end up. But Jake Bauers, right now, is as good an offensive weapon as the Brewers have had in the past seven years — a span in which the Brewers have made the playoffs in all but one season and in which they’ve won four, perhaps soon to be five, division titles. On top of his on-field play, Bauers has also turned into a team leader; it was he who spoke out after the Brewers’ tough series in San Diego last week, and he who sparked their turnaround in Los Angeles, where they took three of four to salvage a solid road trip at the end of a 17-games-in-17-days stretch.

How did we get here?

If you told someone in 2017 that 10 years later Bauers would be one of the league’s best hitters (Bauers is eighth in the league in OPS+ at the start of play on Wednesday), that wouldn’t have surprised anyone. Bauers was a seventh-round pick of the Padres out of high school all the way back in 2013, but he was included in a massive trade after the 2014 season (one which included such highly regarded prospects and young players as Wil Myers, Trea Turner, and Joe Ross) that sent him to Tampa Bay. In the Rays system, Bauers thrived; in 2016, when he was just 20, he hit .274/.370/.420 with 14 home runs and 28 doubles at Double-A Montgomery, and he started appearing on top 100 prospect lists heading into 2017. Another strong season in 2017 (.263/.368/.412 as a 21-year-old at Triple-A Durham) put him on the major league doorstep. He was 22, and Baseball America had him as a top 50 prospect.

After that, things got rocky. He debuted with the Rays in 2018 and slugged a bit with 11 homers and drew a bunch of walks in 388 plate appearances, but he hit just .201. After the season, he was sent to Cleveland in a big trade that ended up with Carlos Santana in Cleveland and Yandy Díaz in Tampa (the Mariners took back some cash, a pick, and the shell of Edwin Encarnación). Bauers played 117 games for Cleveland in 2019 but hit just .226/.312/.371 (a 78 OPS+). He didn’t make Cleveland’s roster in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and thus didn’t play baseball; in 2021, he got off to a poor start and was traded yet again, to Seattle, but the names in the trades that Bauers was included in at this point were losing some shine; Seattle sent a pitcher named Damon Casetta-Stubbs who never got above High-A.

The struggles continued in Seattle, and Bauers could only manage a minor league deal as a free agent in 2022. He played 29 games in Cincinnati’s system and hit .135/.276/.271. The Yankees brought him on and he hit .226/.352/.406 for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Things finally turned around a bit for the now 27-year-old Bauers in 2023; it was just a 24-game sample, but Bauers hit .359/.485/.897 (!) with 11 home runs in 97 plate appearances before he earned another chance in the big leagues with New York. The batting average was still poor, but Bauers did flash some power; 12 homers in 272 plate appearances for the Yankees in 84 games in 2023.

The Brewers traded for him after the season, sending a couple of lottery tickets, Jace Avina and Brian Sanchez, for him. As we all know here, the struggles continued for Bauers: in 117 games and 346 PA in 2024, he hit only .199. He did walk a lot, and he hit 12 homers, and Pat Murphy seemed to like him. He stuck around in 2025. Through 60 games played, Bauers was hitting .197 with five home runs in 151 plate appearances. On July 18, he went on the injured list with shoulder inflammation.

What changed?

It’s not entirely clear what happened in the four-ish weeks that Bauers spent on the injured list, but something happened. Bauers has talked about simplifying his approach, and in interviews these days you’ll hear him talk often about mental things like remaining even-keeled, not letting himself get too high or too low, valuing his family, and keeping a long view of things.

Whatever happened, Bauers was a different hitter. After a few games shaking the rust off, Bauers hit .360/.458/.560 in 22 games in September. In six postseason games, he hit .308 with a double and a homer in 14 plate appearances. This season, he has shown that whatever happened in that small sample at the end of the 2025 season has endured.

So what actually happened?

The fact is, Bauers always had some good indicators. Look at his Statcast pages going back to 2023; Bauers was always good at finding the barrel and hitting the ball hard. He didn’t chase much. He always swung the bat hard — he’s a strong guy. But the thing that really sticks out is strikeouts. Check out his strikeout percentages:

  • 2023: 34.9% (unqualified on Statcast, but bottom five-percent-ish)
  • 2024: 34.1%, 2nd percentile
  • 2025: 27.1% (unqualified, but 15th percentile-ish)
  • 2026: 24.8% (27th percentile)

Bauers still strikes out a lot, but he is vastly improved from four years ago, and the change that has made to his other indicators is enormous. While he was always getting his barrel on the ball and hitting it hard, he wasn’t putting the ball in play enough to be a major factor. But now look at the effect the increased balls in play have had on his expected batting average and slugging percentages:

  • 2023: .221 xBA, .475 xSLG
  • 2024: .199 xBA, .389 xSLG
  • 2025: .234 xBA, .457 xSLG
  • 2026: .260 xBA, .484 xSLG

Bauers has also always been an elite walk-taker; I mentioned the chase percentage as a major strength earlier, and to illustrate the point he was in the 88th percentile in walk percentage even when he was badly struggling in 2024. Bauers has sported walk percentages of 14.7 and 14.6% in the last two seasons; he’s in the top 10 in walk percentage this year and would’ve been last year if he’d qualified.

Bauers is a poor fielder. His reputation as a good defensive first baseman is merely a reputation at this point — his numbers don’t back it up. He does offer the Brewers value by being able to play in the outfield, and it has enabled them to opt for some offense-heavy lineups during times when they’ve really needed a boost. But let’s not pretend that Bauers is by any means a good, or even decent, defensive outfielder.

That does not diminish his value to the team, though. With Christian Yelich and William Contreras struggling badly for huge swaths of the 2026 season, with Jackson Chourio still in the “young and streaky” phase of his career (and absent for the first six weeks of the season), the Brewers needed someone to step up and lead the offense. Brice Turang has done his part, but Bauers is the guy who has been there all year, steadily. Bauers has five more homers than any other Brewer, he’s walked more than every Brewer except Turang (who has two more walks in 75 more plate appearances), his OPS+ is 12 points higher than the next highest (Andrew Vaughn) and 25 points higher than another player with 300 plate appearances (Turang).

Where do we go from here?

It’s certainly a question as to whether Bauers will be back to ply his trade with the Brewers beyond this season. He is a free agent, and he’s played well enough this season that he’s very possibly going to be the best free agent first baseman on the market. The Brewers very well may offer Bauers the qualifying offer (a decision that would be made before the looming lockout); would Bauers take it?

My guess is no — he’ll be 31 before the postseason is over, and according to Spotrac, Bauers’ career earnings are currently less than $10 million. I mean, I’d be happy to take that for my own career earnings, but we’re talking relatives here; this will be Bauers’ best chance to lock in generational wealth for his family. The roughly $22 million qualifying offer is a lot (and the Brewers should offer it, with Brandon Woodruff coming off the books), but at his age and with his limited track record of success beyond this season, I strongly suspect Bauers would be more likely to take a longer-term, higher-value deal even if the average annual value was lower.

Could the Brewers still be in on that deal? I’m looking at something like Christian Walker’s three-year, $60 million deal signed with the Astros before the 2025 season. Walker definitely had a longer record of success at that point — he’d averaged over three WAR per 162 games over the previous six seasons — but he was also entering his age-34 season, three years older than Bauers. Three years and $60 million would be a lot for the Brewers. Would Bauers settle for something like three years and $45 million? Or two years and $40 million? It’s hard to say, and it’s kind of difficult for me to believe that, given the offensive struggles of some of the league’s wealthiest teams this season, there wouldn’t be a team out there that would beat an offer like that. Plus, we’re all working in hypotheticals here, anyway — we do not know exactly what sort of limits on free agent contracts may or may not exist after the lockout.

(One other quick note that could apply here: if the Brewers do offer Bauers the qualifying offer and he declines it and signs elsewhere, Milwaukee does recoup a draft pick. But where that pick ends up could be a question; under current rules, if he signed for less than $50 million, it would be after the second round; if more than $50 million, it’s after the first round.)

For now, let’s worry about next year next year. Bauers has been immense for the Brewers this season, and given how long it took him to get to his place, it’s a good story, too. He’s probably going to end up with some down-ballot MVP votes this year, a nearly unthinkable outcome after the first couple years of Bauers’ Brewers tenure. Great teams often need a player like this to step up unexpectedly, and Bauers, at a bargain price, is doing that for the 2026 Brewers as they march toward the league’s best record.

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Orioles news: Alexander nears rehab, De León switches to relief

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 19: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts during a review in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 19, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. The review resulted in the play being a foul ball. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Hello, friends.

Pete Alonso hit a fair ball into the left field seats last night that should have been a go-ahead home run. Let’s just get that one out of the way right off the top. It’s unbelievable that the umpire did not call a fair ball live and it’s even more unbelievable that the replay center did not accept the decisive angle that would have given the Orioles a 4-3 lead. I don’t subscribe to any conspiracy theories. I think those people are just bad at their jobs.

It is one of those times I would have liked to see some fire from the manager. The figurative shadow of Earl Weaver looms over any major league field involving the Orioles. Craig Albernaz doesn’t have to do it Earl’s way, but he does need to do it some way. Just get caught being mad at the umpires when the process has screwed over your team. Point, yell, gesticulate, whatever, let the team know you’re not going to take it sitting down. Go around yelling at people until they eject you, then yell a little more.

Albernaz doesn’t seem to do this; he didn’t do it last night anyway. I don’t think it’s why the Orioles lost the game. They lost because they have an insufficient number of relievers to rely upon, and also because they went 0-6 with runners in scoring position. I just think it’s something that Albernaz should have done.

After this mishap, in classic 2026 Orioles fashion, a variety of stupid things occurred and the result was a 5-3 loss at the hands of the Yankees. Check out John Beers’s recap of the game for more of the not-so-lovely totals.

The Orioles bullpen being what it is lately, maybe Alonso getting the home run that he deserved would have only set up an even more tragic way of blowing the freshly-earned lead. Two runs were charged to Cam Sanders in an eighth inning outing where he hit two batters and walked another one. It’s not good to have to rely on guys of this ilk. You might get a few pleasant surprises out of them initially but guys like this are relatively cheaply available for a reason and the longer you give them, the more likely they’ll show you.

It’s a bad way to build a bullpen and these weaknesses have been exposed even more since Mike Elias decided to trade Tyler Wells ahead of the deadline. Grant Wolfram has fallen apart. Rico Garcia had his problems recently. Yennier Cano has hit a rough patch since being called into higher-leverage later-game situations. And those are just the ones you might have liked at one time. There are other, rougher names involved.

Perhaps there’s going to be at least one new face coming soon to the bullpen. Orioles beat writers, including The Baltimore Banner’s Andy Kostka, put this one out last night:

Is De León going to be anything? I don’t know. He was only promoted to Triple-A Norfolk recently and he’s got a 5.28 ERA and 1.83 WHIP through his first four games. Just last night, he walked three batters over the course of a scoreless inning of relief. He is the #7 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s recently-updated top Orioles prospect list. He becomes Rule 5 draft eligible this offseason. Perhaps they think he can be an extra weapon out of the bullpen. Perhaps they’ll even be right.

The 2026 American League playoff situation being what it is, the Orioles did not lose any ground in the wild card chase. The Blue Jays lost. The Guardians lost. The Tigers lost. The Rangers lost. Only the Twins were winners, so they now stand in the third wild card spot, half a game ahead of Texas and a touch farther ahead of others. Minnesota is off today. The Orioles only have to win to peel back the half game.

They need the win also to avoid being swept by the Yankees. I’ve gotta say, folks, it is entirely in character for the 2026 team to really rope people in with winning the first three games of that Rays series only to fall apart after that. They lost the next three games, each in fairly agonizing fashion. They try to avoid a fourth straight loss as the series concludes starting at 6:35 tonight. It won’t be easy: Gerrit Cole is pitching for New York. Kyle Bradish makes the start for the O’s.

Orioles stuff you might have missed

Which teams have suffered the most due to injuries? (FanGraphs)
You probably won’t be surprised to know that the Orioles are in the top 5 of this ZiPS-projected WAR lost to injury.

To try and get his bat going, Gunnar Henderson needed more than batting tweaks (Baltimore Baseball)
There are some encouraging signs for Henderson recently. Hopefully we continue to see encouraging signs.

Albernaz must trust starters when they earn it (The Baltimore Sun)
The Sun was taking Albernaz to task yesterday for pulling Shane Baz in Tuesday’s game. Many people took the opposite view, that Baz wasn’t pulled soon enough.

Alexander nearing rehab assignment and return (School of Roch)
Samuel Basallo is back, Blaze Alexander is close to a rehab assignment, is there enough time for things to come back together? On that question, make sure you vote in our poll that’s running this week.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

The most recent Orioles victory on today’s date came two years ago, when they knocked off the Mets by a 9-5 margin to pull into first place in the AL East by a half-game margin. Anthony Santander and James McCann each homered in the game. Dean Kremer was pretty good. Just four of the fifteen players who appeared in that box score for the team are on the 40-man roster right now.

There are a pair of former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 1996-2001 outfielder Gene Kingsale, and 1955-59 pitcher George Zuverink.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: Chilean Supreme Director Bernardo O’Higgins (1778), 23rd president Benjamin Harrison (1833), horror author H.P. Lovecraft (1890), baseball Hall of Famer Al López (1908), musician/actor Isaac Hayes (1942), TV weatherman Al Roker (1954), actor Ke Huy Quan (1971), and singer-songwriter Demi Lovato (1992).

On this day in history…

In 636, the expanding Rashidun Caliphate defeated the Byzantine Empire in the Battle of the Yarmuk, seizing control of the area of modern-day Syria from the Byzantines.

In 1648, France defeated a Spanish-Lorraine force in the Battle of Lens, a decisive victory that paved the way for the Peace of Westphalia and the end of the Thirty Years War later in the year.

In 1858, the theory of evolution developed by Charles Darwin was first published in a journal titled The Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London.

In 1882, the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky had its premiere performance in Moscow.

In 1977, the Voyager 2 probe launched, actually launching before Voyager 1 even though it’s numbered second. The probe passed by Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune over the next 12 years and is now over 13.3 billion miles from Earth.

**

And that’s the way it is in Birdland on August 20. Have a safe Thursday. Go O’s!

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Phillies News: Nestor Cortes, Zack Wheeler, Derek Hill

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 16: Alec Bohm #28 of the Philadelphia Phillies (R) celebrates his three-run home run with Brandon Marsh #16 during the sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on August 16, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Phillies have the day off today before they will look to continue their recent streak of good play against the Cardinals this weekend at Citizens Bank Park. It’s probably for the best the off day is today, as it looks like it would have been incredibly difficult to play a ballgame with tonight’s forecasted weather.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

MLB news:

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Throwback Thursday – Playoff hero Calvin Booth – May 3rd 2001

Don Nelson (L), head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, celebrates with Calvin Booth (R) after Dallas beat the Utah Jazz 84-83 to take the first round NBA Western Conference playoff series 03 May 2001 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Booth scored the winning basket to beat the Jazz 84-83 and advance to the second round. AFP PPHOTO/George FREY (Photo by GEORGE FREY / AFP) (Photo by GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

On April 21st, 2001, the Dallas Mavericks officially broke the seal on the NBA Playoffs after a lengthy hiatus. Dallas had missed the Playoffs for 10-straight seasons, including a near miss in 1999-2000 when they went 40-42. Following that campaign, Dallas improved their win total by 13 games to finish 53-29 in 2000-2001, leaving no doubt they had arrived on the postseason scene.

Not only was the +13 win total impressive in and of itself, but for context, the Western Conference was stacked. All but one of the eight West Playoff teams won 50 games (the 8 Seed Minnesota Timberwolves won 47). The 1 Seed San Antonio Spurs grabbed 58 wins, just five games better than a Mavericks team that was a postseason afterthought for so long.

Dallas’ 53 wins were good enough for the 5 Seed and a matchup against the Utah Jazz. Utah was just a few years removed from back-to-back Finals appearances and still featured NBA legends in John Stockton and Karl Malone, yet the two teams were nearly dead even during the regular season. Each team won two of their four regular season matchups. Both teams went 14-10 against the other (now defunct) Midwest Division teams. Utah however, performed better against the Western Conference at large and therefore got home court advantage in the best-of-five series.

Lucky charms fall short

The Mavericks did something that teams often do when they’ve broken through a wall. In this case, the Mavericks decided they would celebrate their return to the Playoffs with an overt show of unity – they wore nice blue socks to match their blue road uniforms. Meanwhile, the more experienced Jazz team needed no such demonstrations.

In game one, Dallas took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter, which generally spelled doom for the opponent. The Mavericks were 46-2 during the regular season when leading after three quarters, including a 21-1 road record in those situations. Despite that, and despite their lucky socks, Dallas found themselves down by a point in the closing moments. Dirk Nowitzki was stripped on a drive that would have given Dallas the lead with roughly three seconds remaining in the game, had he converted. Utah made a free throw, giving Dallas the chance to win on the final shot, but Michael Finley’s three-point attempt was off target and the Mavs were down 0-1 in the series.

The Mavs were roundly beat in game two, losing 109-98 after being outscored in all but the fourth quarter. As a result, they were on the brink elimination. Upon their return to Dallas, they ditched the socks and found a reversal of fortune.

Evening the series

Home cooking was good for Dallas, as they pulled out a tight game three, 94-91 behind a strong first quarter. Finally, Dallas staved off elimination and got their first Playoff win since 1988. With the best-of-five setup, they were just a single win away from forcing a deciding game back in Utah. Game four ended up doing just that. The Mavericks started slow, trailing 24-17 after the first quarter, then collectively went insane, outscoring the Jazz by 37 points the rest of the way. The 107-77 victory gave the Mavs a chance to close the deal back in Utah in game five.

Calvin Booth plays the hero

Utah showed their veteran savvy in game five, getting off to a strong start, particularly in the second quarter. Carrying a 71-57 lead into the fourth quarter, it appeared as though the upstart Mavericks had met their match and would be going home after a valiant effort to force a deciding game. Dallas had other ideas.

Calvin Booth started the fourth quarter despite coming off the bench to start the game. The decision by Don Nelson proved to be an excellent one. The Mavericks slowly chipped away throughout the fourth quarter, with Booth turning away multiple Jazz shots at the rim.

The final two minutes were a roller coaster. Trailing by one, the Mavericks forced a turnover, courtesy of Booth’s quick hands. The ball ended up with Finley, who got it to Nash, who made a great pass from a few steps inside halfcourt to Dirk Nowitzki under the rim. Unbelievably, Nowitzki missed the reverse layup and Malone got the rebound. On the next possession, Dallas played terrific defense, forcing Danny Manning to attempt a shot clock beating jumper with none other than Booth defending him. The shot missed and Nash took it the other way. Finley hoisted a three that didn’t go down, sending Dallas back on defense. Malone missed a turnaround jumper and Nowitzki grabbed the board. Nash got the ball and took off, then slowed it down to set up the offense. Finley got the ball and backed down Stockton. Manning came over to double-team Finley with four seconds left on the shot clock. Booth slipped through on the baseline, Finley (who played every minute of the game) rose up, zipped a pass to him, and Booth turned to hit a layup – his first and only made field goal of the game. In the final 10 seconds, Utah missed a three, got the offense rebound and then missed a buzzer beater. The Mavs had won.

Booth’s entire 2000-2001 season consisted of 15 regular season games with the Mavericks and nine Playoff games. Despite his limited time on the team, he will forever be linked with an amazing Playoff comeback in a deciding game that put the Mavericks in the second round, kicking off a span of 12-straight seasons that Dallas made the Playoffs. Booth returned in 2004-2005 for a second stint. Despite his relatively short tenure with the Mavericks, he left an indelible mark on the franchise. Taking full advantage of Nelson’s intuition, Booth had a major impact across the deciding quarter of the deciding game.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

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The Statistical Doppelgänger Machine has the right comps for Kyshawn George

Is Kyshawn George a career backup or a long-term starter? The stats point towards and answer. | FIBA via Getty Images

Next stop in The Annual Statistical Doppelgänger Machine Tour: Switzerland. Well, kinda. No skiing or fancy-schmancy watches or neutrality — just a look at which players in NBA history had seasons that looked the most like what Kyshawn George did last season.

For those who haven’t memorized the birthplaces and childhood homes of every Wizards player, George was born and raised in Switzerland.

Is Kyshawn George a career backup or a long-term starter? The stats point towards and answer. | Getty Images

To my eye, the broadly favorable view of George’s performance got ahead of his actual performance. He looks good out there, he does many good things, and he does plenty of negative things as well.

To me, the biggest positive is his confidence. It also might be his biggest weakness. There’s good three-point shooting (38.1%) on above average volume, and 7.3 assists per 100 team possessions (well above average). He’s a competent ball handler, he’s tough, and he plays with a relentlessness and physicality that’s at times admirable.

He also commits a ton of turnovers (4.3 per 100 possessions — compare to a league average of 2.8) and fouls (5.8 per 100 possessions). George’s shot selection inside the three-point line was…well…let’s call it “adventurous,” and that sense of adventure contributed to shooting just 48.6% on twos — compared to a league average of 55.0%.

He finished well when he got to the rim (73.1%). The issue: lots of floater range attempts at a 35.7% conversion rate.

The good and bad tallied to an 87 score in my PPA metric. League average in PPA is 100. That’s fine for a second-year player who’s just 22-years-old picked 24th overall. The point here is merely that he still needs to make significant improvements to earn a starting role with the Wizards going forward.

Let’s get to the doppelgängers. And, unlike the comps for Bilal Coulibaly, you won’t need to take safety precautions for these:

  1. Justise Winslow | 2018-19 | Miami Heat | Age: 22 — This was one of Winslow’s (rare) healthy seasons. He played 66 games — two fewer than he did the following season. This was his best overall performance, tallying to an 85 PPA. He was a talented player who never stayed healthy long enough to show what he could do. Gotta think (hope?) George will be healthier, though I have to mention George has played in 68 and 48 games respectively in his first two seasons.
  2. Cole Anthony | 2022-23 | Orlando Magic | Age: 22 — Anthony is basically the little-guy version of George. Tough as nails, all-out effort, plenty of positives, and bit negatives.
  3. Taurean Prince | 2017-18 | Atlanta Hawks | Age: 23 — Prince’s second season. He played all 82 games, though it was not a harbinger of his future health and availability. The 87 PPA he posted that season was also the best mark of his career.
  4. Kevin Porter Jr. | 2021-22 | Houston Rockets | Age: 21 — I’m not a big Porter fan, but he’s been reasonably productive, albeit with enough issues that teams seem happy to move on from him. I don’t think that’ll be the case with George. The profile is there, though — talent enough to generate positives, enough judgement issues to produce negatives (hi there, turnovers) that can hurt the team.
  5. Reggie Jackson | 2013-14 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Age: 23 — Another maximal effort, maybe a bit nuts, little guy. Jackson spent most of his career as a pain-in-the-neck backup guard who was part of some winning teams.

Some honorable mentions:

  • Keldon Johnson, San Antonio Spurs — age 24 season
  • Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons — age 21
  • Kyle Kuzma, Los Angeles Lakers — age 22
  • Caris LeVert, Brooklyn Nets — age 23

My eye test comp was Dillon Brooks, but the closest Brooks season ranks around 260th.

My sense is that The Machine’s comps have the right overall type — competitive, hard-nosed, physical reserves who had value to good teams when they could rein in the fouls and turnovers. I think George is reasonably likely to be better than any of those five turned out to be, though it’s worth a reminder that player development is not linear.

I have the same kinds of neat career arc graphs most stat goobers do, but those are averages. There’s a lot of variation, and things get messy with individuals.

Next through the machine: Trae Young.