Itauma can become second-youngest champion after Mike Tyson
Hrgovic claims title victory for opponent would ‘ruin his soul’
Moses Itauma has hit back at Filip Hrgovic’s taunt that he is a “delusional kid” and admitted that his Croatian rival is starting to annoy him as the two men prepare to fight for the IBF world heavyweight title on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London.
“I tell myself there’s nothing that this Hrgovic guy can do to get in my head but he’s starting to wind me up,” Itauma said on Tuesday evening. “In an interview earlier, apparently he said I wake up and I just hug trees. He’s really starting to annoy me.
For the second time in three years, Klay Thompson is on the move. But this time, Thompson is taking his talents to South Beach to join the Miami Heat on a two-year, $11.5 million contract. Thompson is the second big-name player the Heat have acquired this offseason, joining Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Thompson held his introductory press conference on Tuesday and shared why he chose to join Miami, emphasizing his desire to play for head coach Erik Spoelstra even with no prior relationship.
“Not really, but I know Coach Spo’s story,” Thompson told the media. “I know the respect he commands in the world of basketball is very high. We’re from the same city, so I’ve heard great things. He went to Jesuit just like my brother did and they got a lot of family friends who have known him for a long time. And nothing but great things have been said. I know him and Steve Kerr worked together for a couple of stints with Team USA and Steve had nothing but great things to say and so did my friends who have played for the Miami Heat.
“I know it’s a demanding atmosphere and it’s one that’s really competitive and that’s what attracted me to being here. That’s something that I think reflects my mindset to a tee, so that was an easy choice for me.”
Thompson was set to enter the final year of a three-year, $50 million contract that he signed with the Dallas Mavericks in 2024, but after agreeing to a buy-out, he agreed very early on to join Miami. Thompson left money on the table when he signed with the Heat, instead choosing a destination where he could compete for another NBA championship.
“The opportunity to play high-level basketball throughout the season and a chance to make a deep postseason run,” Thompson said. “Those things were so attractive to me. Obviously, you want to maximize your earning potential as an athlete, but I’ve tasted winning before and there’s really nothing like it. Even getting there and failing is better than not even having a shot at it. I’m not saying that’s gonna happen, I’m just saying the opportunity to win again at a very high level was attractive to me. Looking at the roster, it looked like a great fit as far as me being able to space the floor and attack from the perimeter and have great help defenders behind me.
“And especially at this stage in my career, I get to play a specific role and my voice will go a long way hopefully with this team and lead by example.”
Thompson, a four-time champion with the Warriors who spent the first 13 seasons of his career with the franchise, developed into one of the NBA’s best shooters and formed the Splash Brothers with Steph Curry. A five-time All-Star and a multi time All-Defensive team selection, Thompson’s career in Golden State was a legendary one. But after missing both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons with injuries, Thompson’s performance slowly declined and the Warriors chose not to re-sign him following 2023-24.
Thompson is 36 years old and in the twilight of his career, but the Bay Area legend is eager for one last ride with one of the NBA’s most historic franchises.
The selection that became the 24th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft switched hands a couple of times. First, the New Jersey Devils traded it in a blockbuster deal with the Atlanta Thrashers that included Ilya Kovalchuk. Next, it went from Atlanta to the Chicago Blackhawks in a deal that included Dustin Byfuglien.
The Blackhawks used that pick to select forward Kevin Hayes. Hayes then went to Boston College, where he was a star player for four years. The problem for Chicago was that they never got him signed before he completed his senior year, and he left as a free agent once his college career was done. In 2014, he signed with the New York Rangers.
From there, he had a solid NHL career as a middle-six forward. After parts of five years with the Rangers, he spent time with the Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
On Tuesday, the news dropped that Hayes was going to sign with AK Bars Kazan in the KHL. There, he will continue his hockey career. It is unclear whether he will return to the NHL at any point, but this is usually the route guys take at the end of their careers so they can make some more money playing for another year or two.
If it is the end for Hayes in the NHL, he will look back at the way he played and the numbers he put up fondly. Would he have ended with a Stanley Cup or two if he had stayed in Chicago?
By the time Hayes made his NHL debut in 2014, the Blackhawks still had one more ahead of them. He also would likely have helped extend their dominance, as he would have fit in nicely in their forward lineup for many years after.
It is natural for both sides to think about what may have been, but the truth is that he had a good career that will now take a different turn via the KHL.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 10: Bryce Elder #55 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, May 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tom Wilson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Hey, MLB schedule — what gives? The Braves enter a skid, have to play the Brewers (which doesn’t help with the skid), then get a day off to travel home and… have the Dodgers next? Woof. Yes, the Braves took a series from the Dodgers in Los Angeles earlier this season, but the offensive ineptitude-driven skid continues, and the Dodgers are, well, the Dodgers.
Actually, let’s stay on that for a second. The Dodgers are supposed to be extreme world-beaters on paper, but really, they’ve been just another team. A good team, mind, but not anything obscene. They don’t have MLB’s best record, and in fact, like the Braves, they’re 11-10 in August. They were also “only” 13-11 in July, so they’ve gone about seven weeks being generically above-average rather than anything else. They had a six-game losing streak earlier, something that helped the Braves actually overtake them for the second seed for a time… but they’re in the midst of a six-game winning streak and have put some distance between themselves and the Braves record-wise. This is a chance for the Braves to close that gap, but honestly, the Braves have enough issues right now that setting lofty goals like “catch the Dodgers” doesn’t have much of a sense of immediacy.
Still, the Dodgers are good. They have the second-most position player fWAR, and the fourth-most pitching fWAR, even as they’ve babied their pitching staff to an extreme degree. For example, tonight’s scheduled starter, Tyler Glasnow, has made just seven starts before being shelved with a back injury; this will be his return to active duty for the first time since early May. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani have dominated on the mound, backed by the usual superlative relief performance from a mix of expected-ish (Tanner Scott, with a gigantic rebound after his dreadful 2025) and unexpected (Edgardo Henriquez) sources. The bats, well, you know about the bats. Max Muncy has crossed the 4 fWAR threshold for the first time since 2021, though the Braves do get a break as Andy Pages is out with injury. The Dodgers do feel a bit more stars-and-scrubs-y than they have in recent years, but it’s really more “stars-and-guys-who-produce-at-an-okay-clip” and the combined effect is still daunting.
On the hill for the Braves to start this series will be Bryce Elder, who comes in with a 94/111/99 line (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-), good for 1.1 fWAR in 137 2/3 innings across 24 starts. Elder has been has usual inconsistent self, though homer issues (see that large FIP-xFIP gap) have made it difficult for him to have an unequivocally good start recently. He hasn’t had a start with an FIP and xFIP both below 4.00 since June 2, and his line is 135/151/107 since. There’s no huge upswing to point to here, though he did acquit himself pretty well against the Diamondbacks in his most recent start (36/99/87), helping the Braves salvage a game of that set.
Elder started against the Dodgers back in LA earlier this season and had one of his better outings of the year, an eight-strikeout, four-walk affair in 5 2/3 innings. The Braves gave him a four-run lead early, and he and the bullpen pretty much rode it to the end of the game. Elder has made six career starts against the Dodgers and has a 5.51 FIP and 4.43 xFIP to show for it. It’s not clear whether that’s good considering it’s him and the Dodgers (his career FIP and xFIP are between 4.00 and 4.50), or disappointing. In any case, those numbers will probably budge in some direction today.
As mentioned, this game will be Tyler Glasnow’s return from the Injured List. As has been the case for much of his career, Glasnow has been excellent when available, but not available all that much. He put together a 66/75/69 line in seven starts this season before hitting the shelf, though even that can be diced up into four dominant starts in five tries at the start of the year, then an outing where something was Probably Wrong (six walks in 5 2/3 innings), and then a start where he lasted just one inning before being forced out with injury. Maybe Glasnow will be rusty, but if he isn’t, facing him probably won’t cure the Braves’ offensive doldrums.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Monday, August 25, 7:15 p.m. EDT
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV/Streaming: BravesVision, Gray TV, Gray Media Telemundo, TBS
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
Ernie Banks, Ron Santo and Billy Williams in 2003 at Santo’s number retirement ceremony | | Getty Images
As I posted here last week, the Cubs will be having celebrations this weekend honoring their 150th anniversary in the National League.
Monday on Marquee Sports Network, the team announced the 40 players that had been chosen as their 15oth anniversary team. The 40 players were chosen in a fan vote and around 20 of them will be in attendance for a ceremony pre-game on Saturday.
This really can’t be argued with. Two managers who brought the Cubs World Series titles, and another who came close. Honorable mention should be given to Joe McCarthy, who was the manager of the 1929 NL champion Cubs and came close to winning again in 1930. It was that failure that led team owner William Wrigley to fire McCarthy, one of the biggest mistakes in franchise history. McCarthy went on to win eight pennants and seven World Series with the Yankees. Would that have happened with the Cubs? Obviously we’ll never know, but I think some of those pennant-winning teams in the 1930s might have squeaked one or two titles out with McCarthy at the helm.
Another honorable mention here for Johnny Kling, who caught over 1,000 games with the team from 1900-11 — except for 1909, when he held out for a higher salary after the two World Series titles. Not getting paid what he thought he was worth, he told the Cubs he thought he could do better running a pool hall in his native Kansas City, so he took a year off. His replacements were awful and the Cubs finished six games out of first place. Could they have won the 1909 pennant with Kling?
Phil Cavarretta, the 1945 MVP and Chicago native who played on three Cubs NL title teams and managed the club for parts of three seasons, should have been given consideration.
Johnny Evers, a Hall of Famer who posted 39.7 bWAR in 12 Cubs seasons, should be here.
Hornsby’s a Hall of Famer too, but he played only four years for the Cubs, his best seasons (apart from 1929) were elsewhere, and his managerial tenure was turbulent.
No arguments at all with these choices. Stan Hack should be in the Hall of Fame.
Again, no arguments. Don Kessinger’s probably the best player not on this list, with six All-Star appearances and two Gold Gloves, but his offensive numbers were pedestrian.
I would have put Hall of Famer Kiki Cuyler on this list instead of José Cardenal. Cardenal was a fun player who stole 129 bases for the Cubs, but Cuyler was just a better player. Cuyler stole 161 bases as a Cub and his 43 steals in 1930 were the last 40-steal season for any Cub until Ivan De Jesus stole 44 in 1978. His .325 BA in over 3,600 at-bats for the Cubs ranks fourth in the Modern Era.
Speaking of which, Riggs Stephenson deserves consideration, too. His .336 BA as a Cub is tied for the franchise record with Bill Madlock. Stephenson was a key part of the 1929 and 1932 NL pennant winners and finished fifth in MVP voting in ‘32.
There is a major omission here: Charlie Root, who holds the Cubs franchise record for wins with 201, and got MVP votes in five different seasons, back when there was no Cy Young Award. He’d likely have won it in 1927, when he won 26 games and led the NL in innings.
Don Elston, who was a reliable Cubs reliever for some really bad teams in 1953 and again from 1957-64, deserves some consideration here.
As you can see, the fan vote tended to give more credit to recent players, and even some active players. There were some great Cubs before 1945, and they should have been given more recognition. Nevertheless, this is a pretty good representation of franchise history, and the entire team will be honored on Saturday.
Here’s the entire team reveal as broadcast Monday on Marquee.
PHOENIX, AZ - AUGUST 22: Cincinnati Reds third baseman Ke'bryan Hayes (3) looks on during the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 22, 2026 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Reds fans and fans across the country.
The Cincinnati Reds sought out the Pittsburgh Pirates last summer as they inched their way closer and closer to a potential spot in the 2025 playoffs, practically begging them to hand over their defensive maestro 3B at the trade deadline.
Hand them over the Pirates did, as Ke’Bryan Hayes became a Red – as did the roughly $32 million that was owed to him over the remainder of his long-term contract. His defensive reputation has held the part. So far in 128 games with the Reds, he’s been a 10.1 DEF run player defensively at the hot corner, per FanGraphs, while being 10 outs above average per Statcast.
Everything else, though, has been an abject disaster.
Among the 374 MLB players who have logged at least 150 PA so far this season, Hayes owns the single lowest marks in wRC+ (23), wOBA (.207), OBP (.206), OPS (.457), and has somehow managed just 8 RBI the entire time. The cratering is catastrophic, really, even though it isn’t perhaps the single biggest problem the Reds have seen from him in his time in Cincinnati.
What’s also plagued him this year is the very same bad back problem that began to undercut his abilities in Pittsburgh. He hit just .233/.283/.290 in 396 PA during a banged-up 2024 season the year before the Reds went out and traded for him, and he was hitting just .235/.290/.306 for Pittsburgh at the time of the trade. Those numbers ticked up initially after the deal (.271/.328/.441 across his first 19 games as a Red) but bottomed back out to just .213/.312/.255 over his final 32 games of the season.
He’s an offensive hole in the lineup bigger than any other team in baseball can boast, and he’s that with a chronic back problem that can flare up whenever.
The knowns were all there, and the Reds still acquired him. The knowns are all still there right now, too, as Hayes inches closer to his 30th birthday in January. Still, the red flags haven’t been enough for the Reds to completely call time on the experiment despite FanGraphs having suggested he’s been “worth” -0.8 fWAR this year in only 76 games played.
He’s under contract for $7 million in 2027, $8 million for 2028, $8 million for 2029, and the team holds a $6 million buyout on a would-be $12 million salary for 2030. So, to simply eat his contract and cut him would still require about ~$30 million given how much time is left this season, and it sure doesn’t look like the Reds are ready to simply cut him right now as they slide further and further into the NL Central cellar.
If they don’t cut him this season, there’s not really time for him to do anything worse between the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027. In other words, it sure does look like the fact that he’s still on the team right now means they plan on giving him at least one more chance to show he can be something, anything more offensively for them while also providing his elite glove work. That might at least get him to be a replacement level player, something that would be leaps and bounds better than what they’ve gotten from him now.
Of course, that would again come at the expense of Sal Stewart, who came up as a 3B. That’s the position where he’d provide the most value to the Reds, and he’s been shoehorned into playing 1B more often than not all season due to the presence of Hayes (and Eugenio Suarez). Will the Reds really kick another year of experience at the move valuable spot down the road with Stewart just to see if a hope and a prayer that Hayes can post an OPS that begins with 6 actually comes to fruition?
I think, sadly enough, all signs point to the Reds giving Hayes the 3B job to start next season and then – only then – will they make the move to cut him if his production stays where it has been.
What say you? Do you think it’ll be Hayes on the Reds roster at 3B again to start 2027?
This deep in the summer, the NBA rumor mill slows way down, but it never stops. Here are some of the rumors and reports floating around the league.
Teams eye Kyrie Irving
Dallas has made it clear to any team that calls they intend to start the season with Kyrie Irving as its point guard. The Mavericks need playmaking and want to see how he and Cooper Flagg mesh.
However, Irving is not the long-term answer at the point in Dallas, which is why teams around the league think the Mavericks may change their mind about holding onto Irving once the season gets underway, Marc Stein of The Stein Line Substack.
"Rival teams, however, continue to wonder aloud about how firmly Dallas will stick to that stance once the season begins and the next in-season trade deadline on Feb. 11 gradually approaches."
There's a simple logic to this: Irving, 34, is 14 years older than Flagg. Trading Irving at the deadline will be challenging, he makes $39.5 million this season (with a player option for $42.4 million next season) and Dallas is going to want a young players or picks back in that deal. They want to land players more on Flagg's timeline.
He's one of several name players — Anthony Davis, Myles Turner, Michael Porter Jr. — who are not changing teams before the season, but that could change around the deadline.
Miami Heat moves
Stein also confirms what has been reported here and elsewhere: The Heat are likely to sign Nick Richards as a backup big man before training camp opens. He continues to work out in Miami and would be their 14th player under contract.
However, because Klay Thompson signed for less than many expected, including a $5.6 million salary this season, the Heat have the cap space to fill the 15th spot on the roster with a veteran minimum deal. Two former Heat players — guard Gabe Vincent and wing Keshad Johnson — are being considered, Stein reports. It's worth noting that Johnson still has eligibility to be signed to a two-way deal.
Other NBA news, notes
• If you like reading detailed finance stories about how top sports stars gain access to capital, check out this story at Bloomberg: LeBron James Borrowed $300 Million From Insurers Arranged by Guggenheim. The story is largely about how top athletes and artists use future earnings to structure deals that help them unlock immediate capital. In this case, LeBron formed a limited liability company that borrowed almost $300 million from two Midwestern life insurers advised by Guggenheim Partners in 2018, Bloomberg reports.
• While we're talking LeBron, he has partnered with the PGA Tour to bring a two-day event to his hometown of Akron, Ohio, next July 6 and 7. According to the press release, the "inaugural LeBron James Family Foundation Invitational at Firestone Country Club... [will be] a series of integrated initiatives that will combine professional golf with youth engagement and fundraising to create community impact."
"We didn't even consider the idea of returning to Europe this summer. So I don't even know — we didn't go looking for any offers. When this opportunity in Miami came along, I just accepted it."
• One name to watch once the season starts and the trade deadline approaches: Dejounte Murray. Teams will want to see how he looks coming off a torn Achilles, but if he looks good, expect the teams to call the Pelicans and kick the tires on a trade. Maybe Joe Dumars will actually make a trade at some point, anything is possible.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 19: Abimelec Ortiz #81 of the Washington Nationals doubles against the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning at Globe Life Field on August 19, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Abimelec Ortiz started his big league career on top of the world. In his first 11 games, he went 10 for 29 with 4 homers and a 1.160 OPS. It looked like the Nats not only replaced Luis Garcia Jr., but found an upgrade. However, big league pitchers have adjusted to Ortiz and he has come back to earth. Despite that, my faith in the young slugger remains high.
Just from the eye-test alone, Abimelec Ortiz looks hitterish. He has a beautiful left handed swing and always looks ready to fire. That swing took Ortiz from an undrafted free agent to a big leaguer in just a few years. Ortiz was a dominant power threat in the minors, with 116 career MILB homers. The power he showed in the Rangers system caught the Nats eyes and they made him part of the MacKenzie Gore package.
This season was more of the same for Ortiz, who slugged 18 homers in 85 AAA games. In Rochester, he posted an .845 OPS, though many of his underlying numbers suggested he should have been even better. Ortiz has never been the most highly touted prospect but he has always had power and makes more contact than you would expect.
That was sure the case when he burst on to the scene in the big leagues. With big league pitchers not having a book on him, Ortiz dominated early. He crushed fastballs and made consistent contact on pitches in the zone. That caught the league’s attention though, and pitchers adjusted.
Teams noticed Ortiz’s tendency to chase and exploited it. With a better scouting report on him, Ortiz has gotten his welcome to the big leagues moment. Before getting a hit at the end of last night’s game, the 24 year old was going through a 1 for 24 slump.
Abimelec Ortiz in the big leagues: First 14 games: 12-for-40, 1 2B, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 1.017 OPS Last 7 games: 1-for-24, 1 2B, .198 OPS
There was some bad luck and hard contact in that stretch, but some of his flaws got exposed. In the minors, Ortiz chased 27.6% of the time, which is right around average for the level. However, against better pitching that number has gone up to 36.7%, which is right in line with Keibert Ruiz.
With Ortiz facing big league pitching for the first time and pressing during his first slump, this is not a huge surprise. Ortiz is a fairly aggressive hitter by nature, but as he gets more experienced, he will have to find a way to tone it down.
His first two at bats last night were really ugly examples of Ortiz chasing. However, as the game went on, he started to make some adjustments. Even though he chased some pitches in the at bat, Ortiz did find a way to work a walk. He also smoked a low line drive the other way for a base hit at the end of the game.
Those at bats feel like potential momentum builders for the youngster. Ortiz is a pull hitter, and that is a big part of his success, but going the other way to get a knock was great to see. Along with being a power hitter, Ortiz’s ability to be adjustable and make contact is another strength. That is what makes him different from your run of the mill Quad-A power bat in my opinion.
Even after this slump, Ortiz’s numbers are still pretty encouraging. His OPS has dipped to .727, but his slugging percentage is high at .470. Ortiz’s bat speed is elite at 75.4 MPH, which points to serious power upside. He is also great at hitting balls at optimal angles and pulls the ball in the air over 25% of the time.
Ortiz is still doing most of the things that made me so excited about him as a prospect. When I dug into his profile prior to his debut, I saw a very complete hitter. The chase has come up against better pitching, but he still has huge power and makes contact at an average rate. That is a very exciting combination.
Big Abimelec Ortiz got the call. Here is some of the context around the move as well as some info on the slugger https://t.co/SrQfIAu3GI
As Ortiz adjusts to big league pitching, I expect that chase rate to be closer to 28-30% rather than over 35%. With his skills, he can afford to chase a little more than average. I also think we could see another Big Abi heater before too long based on his last couple at bats.
I saw him gain confidence after that walk and hit. Like the rest of the team, yesterday’s offensive outburst seemed like it took a weight off his shoulders. We still have to see more, but I am still high on Abi.
A big reason why the Nats traded Luis Garcia Jr. is because of their belief in Ortiz. Nobody expected it to be perfect, but you can see the talent with this player. Hopefully he has a big finish to the season and locks down a role as the Nats first baseman against right handed pitching entering 2027.
Their trip to Doncic’s home country — which featured working out, playing pick-up games, golfing and exploring Ljubljana — was evidently a fun time. So much so, that Jarred Vanderbilt is considering getting a Slovenian passport.
The Lakers visited several tourist spots in Ljubljana throughout their four-day minicamp in Slovenia. REUTERS
“The trip was great,” Vanderbilt said. “Not gonna lie, didn’t know much about [Slovenia] before I came here, but it’s definitely a spot I will revisit.
“I’m looking to get Slovenian passport. We’ll see. Might be part Slovenian.”
Jarred Vanderbilt:
“I'm looking to get a Slovenian passport. We'll see. Might be part Slovenian.”
The minicamp was an opportunity for the new-look Lakers to get a chance to build a rapport with one another, on and off the court. Chemistry is an important aspect of any championship team and the Lakers will have a different feel after LeBron James left for the 76ers in free agency.
The Lakers also added star center Walker Kessler, swing man Quentin Grimes and forward Sandro Mamukelashvili.
The Lakers’ overseas trip came also as the franchise was sold by Mark Walter for $12.5 billion to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner.
Jarred Vanderbilt enjoyed his time visiting Slovenia during the Lakers’ minicamp. REUTERSJarred Vanderbilt has emerged as a trade candidate for the Lakers, but no deal has transpired. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The Lakers are looking for Doncic to lead the team to glory, a tall task for any player under the bright lights of Hollywood.
But the 27-year-old’s leadership is already on display with the four-day minicamp in Slovenia and it’ll have to continue at training camp next month.
Division leaders Los Angeles (80-51) and Atlanta (76-55) open a three-game series tonight at Truist Park. The Dodgers enter play holding a commanding 9.5-game lead over the Padres in the NL West. Los Angeles has won five straight games and continues to boast one of baseball's most complete rosters, ranking among the league’s best at the plate and on the mound. Struggling of late with just three wins in their last ten games, the Braves have seen their lead in the NL East cut to 3.5 games over the Phillies over the past couple of weeks.
The Dodgers hand the ball to Tyler Glasnow (3-0, 2.72 ERA) tonight. The veteran has been dominant this season…but has rarely been on the mound. This will mark his first start since May 6 due to a lingering back issue. It is difficult to put much stock in his stats from earlier this season, but Glasnow’s 1.64 ERA away from Dodger Stadium is elite.
Atlanta counters with veteran right-hander Bryce Elder (8-7, 3.92 ERA). Other than a start earlier this month against the Mets (5 IP, 7ER) Elder has been exceptional the last two months. In those other six starts, Elder has thrown 34 innings and allowed but nine earned runs. At Truist Park this season, Elder owns a 3.42 ERA.
Stat to Consider: Los Angeles leads the majors against right-handed pitching with a .768 OPS.
Stat to Consider II: The Braves have actually out-homered the Dodgers this season – 168 to 167.
Lets dive further into today’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.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Dodgers vs. Braves
Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Time: 7:15PM EST
Site: Truist Park
City: Atlanta, GA
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, TBS, BravesVision, Spectrum SportsNet LA
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: Dodgers vs. Braves
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: LA Dodgers (-148), Atlanta Braves (+138)
Spread: Dodgers -1.5 (+110), Braves +1.5 (-132)
Total: 8.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers – Dodgers vs. Braves for August 25
Freddie Freeman is 4-12 in his career against Bryce Elder
Mookie Betts, Tommy Edman, Max Muncy, and Shohei Ohtani have each homered against Elder in their respective careers
Sean Murphy and Dominic Smith have each homered in their respective careers against Tyler Glasnow
Drake Baldwin is just 1-19 over his last 5 games
Ronald Acuna Jr. is 18-85 (.212) in August
Kyle Tucker has hit safely in 4 of his last 5 games (5-20)
Mookie Betts was 2-10 over the weekend against Pittsburgh
Bryce Elder has struck out 4+ opposing hitters in 4 of his last 6 games
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Dodgers vs. Braves
The Dodgers are 54-77 on the Run Line this season
The Braves are 70-61 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 59 times in Atlanta’s 131 games this season (59-66-6)
The OVER has cashed 61 times in LA’s 131 games this season (61-69-1)
Expert picks & predictions: Dodgers vs. Braves for August 25
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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 tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Braves:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Dodgers on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 8.5
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The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.
Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games.
15. Ryan Johnson - D (Rochester - AHL, Buffalo - NHL)
Johnson was a late first round pick for the Sabres in the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver, and played four years at the University of Minnesota before signing an entry-level deal in 2023. He split time between the AHL Amerks and Buffalo as a rookie, playing 41 games in 2023-24, but has only seen spot duty the last two seasons.
Who will pick up the scoring this season with the departure of Alex Tuch?
Last year, he scored a career-high 19 points (5 goals, 14 assists) in 56 games with Rochester, but in spite of injuries to both Conor Timmins and Michael Keseelring, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff opted to call up and use Zach Metsa throughout the season.
The 25-year-old is an excellent skater, but is of average size (6’1”, 194 lb), is not overly physical, and has never been a big offensive producer. Following his two-year ELC, Johnson signed a three-year contract extension in July 2025. The first year was a two-way deal since he was waiver exempt, but this and next season, he will have to clear waivers to go down to the AHL.
This increases the possibility of him being dealt before the start of next season or being lost on waivers if he does not make the 23-man roster.
BOSTON, MA - MAY 2: Joel Embiid #21, VJ Edgecombe #77 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers smiles after the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We’ve finally, mercifully reached the quiet part of the NBA calendar, James Harden’s latest eye-popping contract notwithstanding. That triggered a fresh batch of power rankings and standings projections across the basketball internet in recent days.
On Monday, Law Murray of The Athletic put the Sixers fourth in his latest power rankings, trailing only the reigning champion New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. Right after LeBron James signed with the Sixers, he had them fifth, behind those three teams and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Although I anticipate a slow start for the 76ers, like all LeBron James teams, I am already doing what I said I would not do last month: raising expectations for Philly. Why? If nothing else, because they have their team in place.
While James was the player the broadcast partners wanted, Brown was an All-NBA selection last season. It’s Brown replacing George in the salary bracket, and it’s Brown who must show he can defend at the level that helped him earn the 2024 NBA Finals MVP. James should be the kind of connector who makes Philadelphia’s offense easy for everyone else, especially Tyrese Maxey. More succinctly, James replaces Kelly Oubre Jr.
The bench ensures Philadelphia’s depth will be strong. Wade replaces Watford, Simons supplants Grimes, Caldwell-Pope is in for Terry and Philon is an upgrade for the recently retired Lowry. Philadelphia still has significant vulnerabilities, and many of them trace back to whether Joel Embiid is playing and how often he is available. Head coach Nick Nurse has some things to figure out. But the 76ers have more talent, and that’s after being good enough to win a playoff series last spring.
SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell is similarly bullish on the Sixers’ prospects this year. He put them fifth in his latest power rankings, trailing the Thunder, Spurs, Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves.
I’m favoring the Timberwolves here because of their playoff upside. I don’t expect them to be the NBA’s fourth-best regular season team this season, but I like their ability to advance in the postseason more than some of the other contenders for that spot. I’m always been a bit LaMelo Ball guy, and he’s quietly turned into a borderline top-20 player when he’s healthy. Obviously LaMelo’s health is a big if, but you can same thing for Aaron Gordon in Denver and Joel Embiid in Philadelphia. Ball is at least the youngest of that trio.
Notably, Ricky has the Cavaliers at 11th even after their acquisition of Peyton Watson. On a related note, Ricky knows ball.
You know who doesn’t know ball? ESPN, apparently. Their “NBA insiders” joined together to project the full Eastern Conference standings on Monday, and they had the Sixers finishing fourth in the East at 50-32. That’s just behind the Knicks (53-29), Detroit Pistons (53-29) and Cavaliers (51-31), although they’re notably ahead of the Boston Celtics (48-34), whose roster is “s–t,” according to none other than Jayson Tatum’s father. (Did that playoff series create a rift in the space-time continuum? That is the only logical explanation for what’s happened over the ensuing three months.)
ESPN noted “health and cohesion will be among Philly’s biggest concerns”—you think?—but added that “the 76ers have by far the biggest upside of any team in the East.”
All jokes aside, the Sixers’ placement in these latest power rankings and standings projections feel relatively fair. The youth of the Spurs and Thunder should propel them to a better regular-season record than the Sixers, who will need time to gel, especially early on. The Knicks are getting the defending-champion bump because apparently everyone memory-holed how up-and-down their regular season was before they touched God in the playoffs, but that’s beside the point.
The Sixers didn’t assemble this roster to win 60-plus regular-season games, though. They have their eyes on April, May and June. And as ESPN noted, if everything breaks right for the Sixers, no team in the East has more upside than them.
They just need to make it there in one piece first, preferably sans egos.
The band of former Philadelphia Flyers players signing contracts with teams overseas continues to grow with yet another addition to the crew.
Already this offseason, we have seen former Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula leave the NHL behind to continue his playing career in the KHL, and journeyman Anthony Richard ended his run with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms to play in Switzerland.
Now, another former Flyers forward will join the growing group and will get to play against Zamula in the KHL, albeit a member of the opposite conference.
On Tuesday afternoon, it was announced that ex-Flyers forward Kevin Hayes would be leaving the NHL after 12 seasons, singing with KHL outfit Ak Bars Kazan on a one-year deal.
Hayes, 34, spent the last two seasons with the archrival Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring 17 goals, 14 assists, and 31 points in 92 games there, and did not appear in any of the Pens' Stanley Cup playoff games.
In his last NHL game, back on April 14, Hayes recorded two assists in a 7-5 loss to the St. Louis Blues, the team to which the Flyers traded him in the 2023 offseason to end his tenure in Philadelphia.
The 34-year-old former first-round pick flamed out under former Flyers head coach John Tortorella despite racking up 54 points in a career year in 2022-23, and Hayes was never quite the same after that.
Hayes now joins a high-octane Ak Bars team that finished 38-17-5 last season and lost to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the Gagarin Cup final.
On Ak Bars, Hayes will be lining up alongside the controversial Mitchell Miller, Alexander Chmelevski, Grigori Denisenko, and star goalkeeper Timur Bilyalov.
If this is it for Hayes in the NHL, the veteran forward finishes his career with 185 goals, 261 assists, and 446 points in 805 regular season games, including 63 goals, 84 assists, and 157 points in 253 games with the Flyers.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 12: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Houston Rockets after being asked to leave the game for arguing during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 12, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country.
Russell Westbrook recently retired. He spent a season as a Houston Rocket, where he averaged 27.2 points, 7 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game on 47.2 percent from the field and 25.8 percent from deep. The Rockets finished 44-28 and lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the West Semis of the bubble playoffs. The Rockets then collapsed into a rebuild the following season. The Rockets have dealt with the fallout from that lopsided trade since then.
The Rockets initially sent Chris Paul, two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps to the Thunder, then dealt him away the following season for John Wall.
What we want to know is, do you consider the Westbrook deal the worst in Rockets history? The numbers look good, but Russ was a terrible fit for Houston’s system because he couldn’t shoot.
Some other bad deals were Charles Barkley being sent to Houston from Phoenix for fan favorites Sam Cassell, Robery Horry, and Chucky Brown. The Rockets then lost all their depth and never made it back to the Finals.
Reigning MVP Moses Malone was sent from Houston to Philly for a first-round pick and center Caldwell Jones in 1982. Jones averaged 9 points per night the following season, while Malone won another MVP and led Philly to a title.
There was also the Ty Lawson deal in 2015 where the Rockets sent four bench players and first round pick to Denver, only to have Lawson wash out immediately.
There are others, but we want you to decide. Was Russ the worst or someone else?
Cast your vote, tell us in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with the results!
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 19: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners makes a throw to first base for an out during the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at T-Mobile Park on July 19, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Arriving in 2019 in a trade with Philadelphia along with Carlos Santana (briefly, the first time), John Paul Crawford took over at shortstop and gradually blossomed into a valuable everyday bat and spiritual heart and soul of the Mariners infield. Who could ever forget these moments in 2019 and 2021 where he witnessed the final games of two Mariners legends and seemed to fully understand the emotional weight of endings and simultaneously embrace his role as a team leader.
(clears throat, blows nose)
Apologies for the emotional terrorism I sprung on y’all there, but I wanted to point out that even though Crawford has felt like an afterthought at times this season due to nagging injuries, a slow season at the plate, and a decline in defense, the question of what to do as his contract expires at the end of the 2026 season deserves much consideration. He has been through it, right there with all of us. Seeing Félix go. Sending off his friend and infield big brother Seager as the team bitterly fell just short of the playoffs in 2021. He celebrated with us all in 2022 as the team finally broke the postseason drought. He posted a career year in 2023 at the plate. He led all celebrations again in 2025 and picked the team’s postseason victory song. This season he demonstrated his quality leadership again by graciously accepting the move over to third base so that Colt Emerson could take over at shortstop until he too was too injured to play.
J.P. has been everything you could reasonably ask for in a modern-day everyday MLB shortstop. If this is his last hurrah with the team and assuming he makes it back from the IL one more time, it will all likely feel very bittersweet, much like Seager’s finale. I wanted to write this post to a) help folks pre-grieve the potential end and b) remind everyone to appreciate J.P. as much as we can this next month. I also want to point out that even in limited playing time, his wRC+ sits at 103 which is not far off from his career norms aside from his blistering 2023 season. The totals and bWAR may be down, but when he’s been healthy, he’s still been contributing at the plate, which leads me to hoping they give him a couple more seasons as a utility infielder.
Anyways, I wanted to pose some questions to the community and let’s hear your takes on our dear Captain J.P. Crawford.
Is J.P. Crawford done as a Seattle Mariner after 2026?
If no, what’s the path forward in terms of contract and position?
