Former Canadiens Defender Still A Free Agent After Winning Stanley Cup

Although it is nearly September, there are a good amount of players who are still unrestricted free agents. This includes former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Reilly. 

Reilly still being a free agent comes after he won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes. The 33-year-old defenseman played in 42 games last season for Carolina, where he recorded one goal, nine points, and a plus-11 rating. He also posted two assists and a plus-2 rating in two playoff games for Carolina this past spring.

At this stage in his career, Reilly is more of a depth defenseman who can jump into the lineup when needed. When noting that the 33-year-old has 11 years of NHL experience and has had solid moments during his career, it would not be too surprising if he landed a PTO or a one-year deal from another NHL club with training camps starting soon. 

Reilly spent three seasons with the Canadiens from 2017-18 to 2019-20, where he recorded three goals, 20 assists, 23 points, 85 blocks, and a plus-3 rating. His time with the Habs came to an end during the 2019-20 season when he was traded to the Ottawa Senators. Since his time with the Habs ended, he has had stints with the Senators, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, New York Islanders, and Hurricanes. 

What Mark Walter can teach us about class solidarity

US President Donald Trump displays a ring presented to him by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter (L) during a ceremony to honor the 2025 World Series champions in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 23, 2026. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

It’s taken me a couple days to figure out what I want to say about Mark Walter, Guggenheim Baseball Management, and the ownership of the LA Dodgers. There’s plenty of people, including Jeff Passan, who have breakdowns of the facts and the allegations of the case. What we think we know is that Walter and Co., already enjoying an exemption in their TV deal following a bankruptcy judgement under previous ownership, further financialized themselves by taking loans from insurance companies also owned by W&C, then used the interest on repaying those loans to write off even more of their revenue sharing obligations, which are based around local TV revenue minus certain expenses.

In short, it seems the Dodgers borrowed money from themselves to lower the amount of money they owed the subsidized teams around the sport. They are under federal investigation but not really for anything baseball related, rather more inquiries into specific classifications of the various businesses Guggenheim controls. There isn’t even anything the Dodgers did that specifically goes against the Collective Bargaining Agreement — they seemed to have hired an army of accountants to find every gap in the rulebook and slip another $20 bill through it. It’s the same playbook that’s led the Ford Motor Company to be a lending service more than a car manufacturer.

At best it seems Bob Nutting might have been shorted a couple million dollars a year, but the object lesson you should be taking out of this is one of solidarity. Bob Nutting doesn’t care if Mark Walter cost him a couple million a year, if it means that together they can lower all MLB payrolls by a couple hundred million dollars.

I actually don’t think this is something that George Steinbrenner would have done. Capitalism has changed — you always bought an MLB team to make money off it, of course. But it used to be that you had to put a good product on the field to sell tickets and in-stadium ad dollars, or be the St. Louis Cardinals and take advantage of the country’s most powerful radio transmitter to reach farmers in 1960s Nebraska, or take on all the foreign currency risk of the Blue Jays and weigh it against the payoff of being the only game in the entire country.

Now, you inherit a court-ordered exemption from paying your fair share, and further financialize every element of the off-field operations to continually lower every possible obligation you have to the rest of baseball, and because those efforts will help champion the case for a salary cap, the 29 other men in your cohort will go along with it. Maybe, in March or May or August 2027, the knives will come out for Walter, but until the billionaire class has exacted every ounce of control they can over a new CBA, they’ll stand beside each other. What’s a few million when there’s a billion on the line?

This needs to be an object lesson for the union. Already, ownership has tried to drive a wedge between the young players who haven’t yet received their big multi-year deals and the veterans who have. The exact definition of labor in a baseball context is kind of tricky — once you sign for seven or eight hundred million dollars, the increasingly financialized world people who earn that much live in can’t really be classified as purely labor. Still, we pay for tickets and MLB.tv subscriptions and Substacks because of the players. I’m one of the few weirdos that cares about what the owners do. The value we seek in baseball comes from what the players provide.

It’s always easiest for the wealthiest cohort to stick together. There are fewer of them, and their interests are reasonably closely aligned already. If we think of who’s the least wealthy of the least wealthy baseball player cohort, we’d probably look at Latin players who grew up without the supports of Nice White Families and well-staffed prep schools. The backgrounds are not aligned, and the short-term interests aren’t either. But here we have the union’s equivalent of a couple million when a billion’s on the line.

The long term interests of the players, ones with nine-figure contracts and ones riding a shuttle between MLB and Triple-A, are the same, and that is preventing an artificial cap on the players’ share of baseball revenue. Yes, it’s easier for 30 men to stick together than 1200, but if Bob Nutting can forgive a few million dollars, the players need to learn from that example.

Mets Morning News: Happy extra innings ending

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 25: Pitcher Jefry Yan #84 of the New York Mets and first baseman Christopher Morel #28 of the New York Mets celebrate winning in the bottom on the tenth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field on August 25, 2026 in New York City. The New York Mets won 3-2. (Photo by Benjamin B. Braun/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Meet the Mets

The Mets triumphed over the Brewers 4-3 in the tenth inning. The winning run scored when a throwing error by Brewers third baseman David Hamilton allowed Francisco Lindor to reach home safely.

Choose your recap: Amazin’ Avenue, MLB.com, Newsday, New York Daily News, New York Post

There’s been a lot of discussion around Carson Benge as a serious Rookie of the Year contender, but it’d be unwise to sleep on Nolan McLean’s candidacy.

Laura Albanese examined the state of the Mets farm system after the roller coaster of a year it’s had.

Kodai Senga just might have what it takes to succeed as the new Mets closer.

Juan Soto remains on a deliberate running program but he’s still expecting to return next month.

Around the National League East

The Marlins were beaten by the Red Sox 7-3 after 11 innings. Cade Gibson gave up the go-ahead runs on a Jarren Duran grand slam.

The Nationals lost to the Rockies 3-1. Starting pitcher Andrew Alvarez gave up all three runs in his 4.2 innings, allowing five hits and issuing two walks while striking out six.

The Braves claimed a major victory over the Dodgers, winning 4-3. Ozzie Albies drove in the game winning run on an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Phillies were bested by the Mariners 4-1. Aaron Nola got the loss, allowing two runs six innings on three hits and three walks while striking out seven.

Around Major League Baseball

The Dodgers TV deal is an incredible competitive advantage that they further monetized with Mark Walter-owned insurers.

The late Dolly Parton visited Yankee Stadium nearly forty years ago as part of “Dolly”, her television series.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo apologized to Craig Counsell for the shouting match between the two teams during Monday night’s game.

Taj Bradley became a part of Minnesota Twins history Tuesday night, throwing what is believed to be the first immaculate inning in Twins history.

Despite parting ways with general manager Dana Brown, Jim Crane said Joe Espada will remain the manager of the Astros through the end of the season.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

A Pod of Their Own returned with a new episode.

Steve Sypa published another edition of Mets Minor League Players of the Week.

This Date in Mets History

The Bobby Valentine era for the Mets began when he was promoted from Triple-A to the major leagues on this day 30 years ago.

Phillies vs Mariners Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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Seattle Mariners starter Bryan Woo brings one of baseball’s best home splits into the series finale as the Philadelphia Phillies visit the Seattle Mariners this afternoon. Philadelphia is a -126 favorite behind Jesús Luzardo, with first pitch set for 4:10 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Park.

Woo’s dominance at home shapes my Phillies vs. Mariners predictions, which back Seattle as a home underdog, lean Under a low total, and target the hottest bat in the series to go deep.

Read more in my MLB picks for Wednesday, Aug. 26.

Who will win Phillies vs Mariners today: Mariners moneyline (+114)

Jesús Luzardo gives the Philadelphia Phillies a strong starter, but Bryan Woo’s dominance at T-Mobile Park and Seattle’s recent form make the Mariners worth backing as a home underdog. Woo has been a different pitcher in Seattle, striking out 69 batters against just 11 walks and allowing only four home runs across 64 1/3 home innings.

Philadelphia hasn’t solved Seattle’s pitching in this series, scoring only three runs through the first two games in losses of 9-2 and 4-1. Cal Raleigh is also scorching, with four homers over the first two games, giving the Seattle Mariners the hotter lineup.

Luzardo has been excellent, but at +114, I don’t need Seattle to hold the clear pitching edge. Woo’s home dominance and a struggling Phillies offense are enough to take the plus money. I’d play Seattle down to +105.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Bryan Woo has been overpowering at home, posting a 1.96 ERA and 0.75 WHIP across 64 1/3 innings at T-Mobile Park, where he's 7-0.

Phillies vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Under 6.5 (+109)

Woo and Luzardo both have real paths to controlling this game, and the plus-money price makes the Under at 6.5 worth backing. Woo’s home numbers are the foundation, with a 0.56 HR/9 at T-Mobile Park, and Philadelphia has been held down all series.

Luzardo gives us reason to expect Seattle’s scoring to cool as well. The Phillies left-hander owns a 3.35 ERA with 194 strikeouts and has gone 7-1 with a 2.06 ERA over his last 13 starts, and Seattle has scuffled against left-handers lately.

T-Mobile Park is one of baseball’s more run-suppressing environments, adding another layer to the pitching edge. I’d play the Under down to even money.

Phillies vs Mariners home run prediction: Cal Raleigh (+350)

Cal Raleigh has rediscovered his power stroke in a big way, and I’ll back the hottest bat in this series to keep it going. Raleigh homered four times through the first two games against Philadelphia, including a three-homer game on Monday, and his fourth blast gave him home runs in four consecutive official at-bats on his way to 18 for the season.

The left-on-left label is misleading, too, because Raleigh is a switch hitter and will bat right-handed against Luzardo. He has six homers in 143 plate appearances against lefties, and 13 of Luzardo’s home runs allowed this season have come from right-handed hitters.

Raleigh’s path is Luzardo’s four-seam fastball and changeup, more hittable offerings than his tough sweeper, with opponents slugging .473 against the four-seamer. With Raleigh seeing the ball as well as anyone in baseball, I’ll take his surge continuing at +350 or better for a quarter unit.

Ethan Diamandas' 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 3-5, -2.07 units
  • Over/Under bets: 5-3, +1.87 units

Phillies vs Mariners weather

T-Mobile Park is one of the most run-suppressing environments in baseball (92 Park Factor since 2024), which supports the Under pick. The retractable roof also keeps conditions steady for the 4:10 p.m. start.

Phillies vs Mariners odds

  • Moneyline: Phillies -126 | Mariners +114
  • Run line: Phillies -1.5 (+140) | Mariners +1.5 (-161)
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-126) | Under 6.5 (+109)

Phillies vs Mariners trend

Seattle has produced just a .644 OPS against left-handed pitching over the last 30 days, a cold stretch against southpaws that backs the Under with Jesús Luzardo on the mound. Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Mariners.

How to watch Phillies vs Mariners and game info

LocationT-Mobile Park, Seattle, Wash.
DateWednesday, Aug. 26, 2026
First pitch4:10 p.m. ET
TVNBCS-Philadelphia, Mariners.TV
Phillies starting pitcherJesus Luzardo
(11-5, 3.35 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcherBryan Woo
(9-8, 4.10 ERA)

Phillies vs Mariners latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Report: Former Penguins Forward Expected to Sign PTO With Flames

A former Pittsburgh Penguins is reportedly getting a shot from the Calgary Flames. 

According to PuckPedia, the Flames are expected to sign forward Alex Nylander to a professional tryout (PTO) agreement.

Nylander spent this past season with the Toronto Marlies. In 65 games with the AHL club, the former Penguins forward posted 24 goals, 29 assists, and 53 points. He also appeared in 24 playoff games for the Marlies during their Calder Cup championship run, recording six goals and seven points. 

Nylander last played at the NHL level during the 2024-25 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he recorded zero points and four penalty minutes.

The Penguins acquired Nylander from the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2021-22 season in exchange for forward Sam Lafferty. From there, Nylander appeared in 14 games over two seasons with Pittsburgh, where he posted one goal and one assist. 

Nylander spent the bulk of his time with the Penguins organization down in the AHL. In 142 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins over three seasons, he recorded 56 goals and 112 points. 

Nylander's time with the Penguins ended during the 2023-24 season when he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Sens Rewind: 15 Years Later, A Look Back At The Senators' Rebuild That Wasn't

After the Senators made the 2017 Eastern Conference Final, it wasn't long before they began a major rebuild that seemed to take forever. As everyone knows, they missed the playoffs for the next seven seasons.

But six years earlier, also under Eugene Melnyk, the club attempted a smaller rebuild.

The Sens were well clear of their 11-year streak of making the playoffs and were about to miss for the second time in three seasons. So, at the 2011 deadline, GM Bryan Murray dealt away Mike Fisher, Chris Kelly, Jarkko Ruutu, and Alexei Kovalev for draft picks.

Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss whether there's now more pressure on Travis Green in his third year.

As we strolled through The Hockey News Archive this week, we found this season preview from our Yearbook issue 15 years ago as the Senators prepared for the 2011-12 season. 

As Bruce Garrioch checked in on the state of the Sens in that issue, it sure looked like the club was in for some dark days. A quick glance at the Senators' depth chart, combined with their attempts at reinforcements (in red), fully supported the notion that they'd begun a rebuild.

Image

But shockingly, the team that everyone thought had begun a rebuild actually made the playoffs that season with just 92 points, and almost upset the New York Rangers in round one.

Oh, those pesky Sens.


The Hockey News Yearbook 2011-12
August 2011

Sensing Danger: New Coach Needs to Focus on Baby Steps

By Bruce Garrioch

THE OTTAWA SENATORS started their rebuild in February with their season going nowhere and the team falling fast.

Acting on the advice of GM Bryan Murray and his staff, owner Eugene Melnyk made the choice to unload veteran players in the hopes of landing prospects who can build a bright future.

One-by-one, players – mostly with expiring contracts – were waltzed out of the dressing room. They were tough decisions, but the Senators hope it will pay dividends in the end. The road back to respectability is going to take patience and will include some long nights, but this is the route they’ve decided on and the fans have accepted it.

This season will be a huge challenge for new bench boss Paul MacLean and goalie Craig Anderson.

OFFENSE The Senators were the NHL’s second-lowest scoring team last season. Nobody is sure that’s going to change.

While Jason Spezza was one of the club’s most productive players at both ends of the ice, they’re going to need more out of him. He’s not alone.

Milan Michalek has to stay healthy to contribute and so does captain Daniel Alfredsson. Returning from off-season back surgery, Alfredsson, 38, is in the twilight of his career, but can still be the club’s best player. He is going to have to lead the charge with what is going to be a very young group.

Nikita Filatov, acquired from Columbus for a third round pick in the 2011 draft, is going to get a top-six shot. If he can do it, the club needs him to fill the net along with Bobby Butler.

DEFENSE This is an area of intrigue. Acquired from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the club’s No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft, defenseman David Rundblad is expected to provide sizable offense from the back end, as fellow Swede Erik Karlsson already does. The Sens need more out of veteran Sergei Gonchar, who is back to fulfill the second year of his three-year, $16.5 million deal. His 2010-11 season was a disaster and ended when he sustained a concussion.

Ottawa also hopes to find a spot for highly regarded prospect Jared Cowen. He finished the year with the club’s American League affiliate in Binghamton and his 6-foot-5 frame would look good on the blueline, but he might get caught in the numbers game. Don’t be surprised if the Senators try to move Filip Kuba and Brian Lee at the end of camp.

GOALTENDING This is Anderson’s job. Signed to a four-year extension after being acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Brian Elliott, Anderson is going to get a bulk of the playing time. The club signed Alex Auld to be a backup in every sense of the word.

Anderson was outstanding last year during his short stint with the Senators. He finished with an 11-5-1 record in 18 games with Ottawa playing mostly behind call-ups from Binghamton. But he is about to find out what pressure is really like playing in a Canadian market. The Senators aren’t expected to win, but the nation’s capital has been hard on goalies in the past.

If Anderson gets hurt, Robin Lehner will be called up from Binghamton to start. He won a Calder Cup as a 19-year-old last spring and the Senators plan to keep him in the minors to give him the chance to play.

All-time record: 638–620–188

SPECIAL TEAMS This is where Gonchar is going to have to make a difference. He was supposed to do that last year with Alex Kovalev, but it never happened and, as a result, Ottawa was one of the NHL’s worst teams. But their penalty killing has been surprisingly strong. Spezza has taken on more of a role in this area. Having a goalie who can stop the puck in Anderson will help, big time.

INTANGIBLES The decision to fire coach Cory Clouston was just part of the rebuilding program. His inability to communicate was considered a major issue and that’s why the change was made.

McLean has a good sense of humor and the players will like what he brings to the table. The big job is making sure they all buy into the program. He wants the team to have speed and toughness.

ROOKIES The Senators are going to be young. Butler, Colin Greening and Erik Condra got plenty of experience during the club’s late-season shift to youth and then they went down to the minors and won an AHL Calder Cup championship with Binghamton. Can they learn from that experience?

If Ottawa is going to have any rookie-of-the-year candidates it’s going to be either Rundblad or Cowen. Blueliner Patrick Wiercioch will also make a valiant push in camp for a permanent spot.

There is an opening on the second line and 2011 sixth-overall pick Mika Zibanejad from Sweden has a chance. If he impresses at camp, he will earn a spot on the roster.

CAP CRUNCH With so many kids, the Sens are a million miles from the cap. If they’re going to use some of that space, it would be best spent on scoring.

THE BRASS Melnyk hates to lose. He’d like this turnaround to come quickly. The Senators want to see where they stand after the next CBA negotiation. Murray is armed with a three-year contract and MacLean is on solid ground. All should make for an interesting year in Ottawa.

X-FACTOR It would take a Herculean effort from Anderson for this team to sniff a post-season berth. They aren’t going to fall short of any expectations because there aren’t any. Fans are being sold on a rebuilding process and it will be interesting to see if they buy tickets.

Where They’ll Finish

15th

The Senators have stars in Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza, but beyond them is a team at the start of a slow, painful rebuild.


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This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest headlines below:

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Josh Hart talks Scouting America ambassadorship, championship run

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks attends the New York Knicks Championship ticker tape parade and victory rally celebrating winning the 2026 NBA Finals on June 18, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The champs have been busy this offseason, continuing their media tours with new sponsorships, talk shows, and overall just enjoying the best few months anyone could ask for as kings of their respective worlds.

The extra media attention has given us some pretty cool opportunities at P&T. Kento talked to Karl-Anthony Towns last month, Russ got a chance to talk to the ever-mysterious OG Anunoby, and I got the opportunity to talk to everyone’s favorite glue guy, Josh Hart, as part of his recent ambassadorship announcement with Scouting America, formerly known as “Boy Scouts of America”.

Hart was in the Scouts program for much of his childhood, joining it to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Moses, and one of his close friends. He gradually rose through the ranks before putting it off at age 13 as life and basketball started to pick up for him. At 16, he returned to the program at the wish of his father, who wanted him to keep his years-old promise to see things through. Josh eventually earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest honor, a week before his 18th birthday.

When asked why he decided now to be an ambassador for the program that shaped much of his upbringing, Hart cited what the program meant for him growing up.

“It’s always been an uphill climb in my career, but I’ve always had life lessons that I’ve gotten from scouting, and I think now is a good time to partner with them and try to influence other kids, parents, adults, and tell them, you know, you can do both.”

“You can do sports, you can do arts, you can do engineering, or whatever walk of life you want to do as a kid, but you can also do scouting,” he added. “You don’t have to pick between one or the other.”

I followed up asking him about that sort of balance that he mentioned of being able to do both scouting and pursue things like basketball, as he did growing up. For him, it was about time management and sacrifice.

“The big thing is sacrifice,” Hart said. “There’s going to be times you might not be able to hang out with friends, or there might be times when you can’t go to a camping trip or a basketball camp or a football camp. There’s going to be sacrifices, but as long as you’re good with managing the time and saying, ‘I got to do X for this merit badge; I got to put the work in on the court this week. Let me lock in for this.’ You’ll put yourself in the best position to be successful.”

Scouting wasn’t for me, personally, growing up. I tried it once because one of my close friends was super into it, but it just didn’t stick for me. A lot of people I know learned valuable lessons there, so it was nice to pick the brain of someone who went through the system and has applied what he’s learned to everyday life and, particularly, his role as a “glue guy” in the NBA.

“You have to have that teamwork mentality,” Hart said about applying his lessons in scouting to his basketball career. “It’s not always about you, and sometimes that’s hard to realize, but scouting helps you understand that more and more.”

“You can’t be out on a trail, 15-20 miles from civilization, when someone gets hurt and think about yourself, he added. ” You’ve got to make sure you’re not focused on yourself, but on how you can help this person, how you can help the group, and navigate where you are and the dangers. I think that [scouting] definitely helped with the foundation of being a servant.“

The purpose of this interview was to, of course, bring light to Josh’s Scouting America ambassadorship, but we’d be remiss not to talk ball. I first asked him a question about both scouting and basketball, giving him a chance to make a basketball merit badge, which he said would require being able to “dribble, shoot, have lateral quickness, leadership”, while adding that the latter aspect would be earned through certain game situations. I can think of a guy who’d get this badge quite easily.

We got some physical media attached to the interview opportunity, which came with the following image of Hart doing the Boy Scout sign, which entails raising three fingers on your right hand. See if you can find what piqued my interest here:

Josh Hart doing the Boy Scout sign with his busted ring finger. | Scouting America

The ring finger on his shooting hand was a topic of discussion in Knicks circles all season long, particularly when he had his low points from the perimeter. He underwent a procedure on the finger after the 2024-25 season, but aggravated it during training camp, electing to play through it with a splint all of the following season. With the finger still appearing to be busted, I asked if he had any plans to repair it, whether now or in the future:

“No, I’ll let it go,” Hart said. “At the end of my career, when I’m done hooping, I’ll probably have to get a joint replacement in it, but for now it’s fine.”

He agreed with my subsequent comment about not messing with what’s working, and I can see why. Hart notably shot a career-high 41.3 percent from downtown on reasonable volume, attempting 3.7 per game. Game 2 against Cleveland was a perfect example of how he didn’t let the injury impact his efficiency:

I stayed away from asking about Hart’s contract situation, in which he’s currently eligible for an extension with a team option currently on the books for 2027-28, but I asked about what it’s been like to have stability in New York, particularly after winning a title and seemingly entrenching the core of this team even further.

“When you’re young in the league, you’re trying to prove yourself and have a long career in the league, and that gets harder and harder the more you’re moving around,” he remarked before adding that he was always traded for a star prior to coming to NY. “It’s tough to try to solidify yourself when you’re going from team to team. Before I came to New York, I had six different coaches in my six years in the league, so it was tough.”

“But now, I’m in New York. I feel like I have a home here, and I’m extremely happy.”

Before getting to the good stuff about the championship, I also touched on the slog of an NBA season and how a guy like him, renowned for his tremendous hustle, sticks with it over the course of the season.

“I think it’s family, obviously my wife is a huge part of that, I’m with her almost every day, so she always keeps me grounded,” he said, touching on a few things that keep him in it. “Having close friends on the team—Mikal, JB— me and JB sit on the plane, so we talk about a lot of game or family stuff, so there’s that, but also my faith.”

“Friends, family, faith, those are the three ‘F’s’ that ground me and help me through tough times, whether that’s tough times on the court or off the court.”

His Twitter feed is always entertaining, but what stood out this week was the rehashing of that moment in Game 4, where the Knicks were on the verge of taking their first lead after the 29-point comeback on a steal and a Hart breakaway, but he missed the layup before committing a foul on the other end. After the whistle blew, he sat frustrated on the ground, only for his teammates to help him up and keep him focused on the end goal.

“They just told me to get up and move on,” Hart said about that moment. “Jose, KAT, JB, pick me up. You can see Landry yelling and motioning for me to get up, and I think that just shows the togetherness we had, where it’s like, ‘Okay, there was a mistake, but now let’s regroup, let’s figure out how we’re going to overcome that mistake and persevere in the moment.’”

“I think that just shows the tight-knit culture and team that we had, and I think that’s a big reason why we won.”

Lastly, I wanted to ask him about what it’s been like to essentially achieve basketball nirvana. It was said for decades that when big stars were linked to the Knicks, “Just imagine what winning a title there will do for their legacy.” How they’ll never have to pay for a meal again in the greatest city in the world. To be elevated beyond the pantheon of champions to being forever beloved in the city that never sleeps.

He used that opportunity to talk about what’s it felt to feel that kind of love by directing it back at the fans and seeing what it means to them.

“The thing that’s super cool for me is that about 90 percent of the people that have talked to me about it, they always mentioned either their dad or their son, and I think that’s the coolest thing.”

“You never want to have a 53-year-long championship drought, but that’s generations. There are people who’s dad’s watched 1973 who were waiting for another one and raised their kids to be Knicks fans, and now they watch those games together. It’s so cool, because it really seemed like it just united families; it gave families that thing throughout all of New York, so it was super cool to hear that.”

That part really hit home with me, even as someone who’s too young to have witnessed the Patrick Ewing era, let alone the ancient (in basketball terms) championships in the 1970s. The second the buzzer sounded in Game 5, I immediately hugged my 39-year-old brother, who’s the reason I became a Knicks fan. He was alive for the 90s; he was alive to see all the pain and failure from the 2000s and early 2010s while I was way too young to understand the game like I do today.

It’s really a powerful moment to have decades of heartbreak spill out, and it’s nice to know that the people who provided us with this happiness that some never thought would come appreciate the love the same way we appreciate them for ending a decades-long nightmare.

Dodgers notes: Tyler Glasnow, Alek Thomas, Shohei Ohtani

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 25: Tyler Glasnow #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on August 25, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Tuesday’s contest against the Atlanta Braves featured a disappointing ending where the Dodgers left the tying runner on third base in a 4-3 defeat, snapping their six-game winning streak.

Before the uneventful finish, Tyler Glasnow made his return to the mound, making his first start since May 6 against the Houston Astros. Although he allowed three earned runs in the first inning, Glasnow, like Tarik Skubal on Saturday, managed to settle in and didn’t allow another run the rest of the way. Glasnow ended his night tossing five innings against Altanta, allowing six hits and those three runs while striking out seven and not allowing a walk.

Glasnow discussed his change in sequencing after a laborious first inning, helping him settle into a groove where he struck out six over four shutout innings onward, per Courtney Hollmon of MLB.com.

“I think just switching up a little bit,” Glasnow said. “I think it was pretty fastball-heavy the first inning. A little bit predictable. Not a ton of hard-hit balls, but it’s just how it goes sometimes. But I think coming out in the second, I just felt more in rhythm and my slider was working a lot better. … The slider felt good today, too. So I just tried to start some guys off with it and throw it in middle counts and just not be so predictable.”

After spending parts of five seasons with the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks, Alek Thomas has had a nice start to his time as a Dodger. Thomas put the Dodgers on the board in the second inning of Tuesday’s matchup with an RBI single, and the outfielder has a .300 average with three RBI and a walk over his first three games with his new team.

Prior to the start of Tuesday’s game, Thomas spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA about getting acclimated with his new team and getting a first-hand understanding of how “next-level” the Dodgers really are.

“I’ve heard that everything is next-level, and it was very eyeopening to see that firsthand, even in the minor leagues. Everything has been just on another level to what I’ve been used to in the past. They’re in the future, it seems like. It’s been really great.”

Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times notes that Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to throw another bullpen either Thursday or Friday before he makes his return to the mound, which could be in a short start over the weekend in Detroit.

Ohtani is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Thursday or Friday, pitching coach Mark Prior said. Then Ohtani and the Dodgers will finalize next steps. But Roberts didn’t rule out the possibility of Ohtani making a short start Sunday in Detroit.

Braves News: Ozzie Albies delivers, NL East race, and more

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 25: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves singles in the eighth inning during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Cole Carter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Atlanta Braves won their second straight after Tuesday’s 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Atlanta jumped out front early, plating three runs in the first inning and later scoring the game-winning run in the eighth. Ozzie Albies came up big, knocking in Matt Olson to give the Braves the edge.

On the other side of the ball, Bryce Elder turned in a start that began shakily, but he ultimately settled in. Over six innings, he allowed three runs on eight hits. He recorded five strikeouts.

Tuesday’s win made for Atlanta’s 77th win of the year. They go for the series win tonight at 7:15 ET.

More Braves News:

The Braves currently have a 4.5 game lead over the division, but the NL East has taken some unexpected turns.

MLB News:

The Miami Marlins placed right-hander Pete Fairbanks on the 15-day injured list with right median nerve irritation. Lefty Dax Fulton was recalled in a corresponding move.  

The St. Louis Cardinals placed shortstop Masyn Winn on the 10-day injured list with a thumb fracture.The move is retroactive to August 22. 

The Toronto Blue Jays placed right-hander Shane Bieber on the 15-day injured list with right teres major inflammation. The move is retroactive to August 21.

From the Feed:

Cast your vote here for Braves Player of the Game.

Open Thread: Stephon Castle posts a video of him working on his shot during the offseason

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 10: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots a free throw during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Spurs guard Stephon Castle posted a video of his summer workout.

The post starts with Castle responding to this question- “What’s been your focus this summer?” His response is that shooting has been a top priority. While working on his shot, he is refining his rhythm.

From there, trainer Olin Simplis takes over explaining what Castle is doing. “Working his pickups off his dribble off the deep ball his gather his shot line.”

Simplis is described here on the “About” page of his Guard Whisperer site:

“Olin Simplis is not just a trainer. He is a development architect. His work sits at the intersection of skill, psychology, biomechanics, character, and pro-level preparation — built across three decades of work with NBA professionals, WNBA champions, NCAA standouts, and elite prep talent.”

Simplis referred to Castle as “the best perimeter player” in a recent interview, praising his constant improvement and conditioning.


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Vancouver Canucks 2026–27 Player Preview: Kirill Kudryavtsev

Welcome to The Hockey News Vancouver Canucks site's 2026–27 player preview article series. This series will outline the expectations for every player projected to play for Vancouver during the 2026–27 season. Today's player is Canucks defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev.

Kudryavtsev's 2025-26 Season

Kudryavtsev ran into some difficulties during the 2025-26 campaign. The 22-year-old suffered an injury which kept him out of the lineup for two months. Unfortunately, this also forced Kudryavtsev to miss the 2026 All-Star Classic, which he was scheduled to attend as the Abbotsford Canucks' representative. 

As for when he was in the lineup, Kudryavtsev played a significant role for Abbotsford. He recorded 20 points in 44 games and, at the end of the year, earned a call-up to the NHL. Kudryavtsev played three games for Vancouver, where he recorded his first two NHL assists. 

Kudryavtsev's 2026-27 Letter Grade

The Hockey News' Canucks site gave Kudryavtsev a B- grade for his 2025–26 season. He took a step in his development and proved that he can be leaned on at the AHL level. Kudryavtsev has become a fan favourite within the organization and has become a draft-day steal.

Kudryavtsev's 2026-27 Predictions

Kudryavtsev is going to be given every opportunity to make the NHL team this year. He has a strong relationship with Manny Malhotra, as the two have worked together in the AHL. Ultimately, Kudryavtsev could be one of the final cuts in the pre-season, as the organization clearly believes he is ready for a bigger role. 

As for the most likely option, Kudryavtsev will probably find himself back in Abbotsford this year. He will most likely be on the first pairing, which also comes with plenty of special teams work. If he does head to the AHL, Kudryavtsev will be a candidate to be called up if injuries occur. 

Bold Prediction: Kudryavtsev plays at least 15 games in the NHL this season. 

Apr 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kirill Kudryavtsev (59) handles the puck against the Los Angeles Kings in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Apr 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kirill Kudryavtsev (59) handles the puck against the Los Angeles Kings in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Canucks 2026–27 Player Previews: 

Arshdeep Bains

Ilya Safonov

Braeden Cootes

Linus Karlsson

Nikita Tolopilo

Victor Mancini

Kevin Lankinen

Filip Chytil

Thatcher Demko

Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Elias Pettersson (D)

Marco Rossi

Max Sasson

Jamie Oleksiak

Drew O'Connor

Luke Schenn

Paul Cotter

Brendan Gallagher

Liam Öhgren

Tom Willander

Jake DeBrusk

Zeev Buium

Brock Boeser

Filip Hronek

Elias Pettersson

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Former Vancouver Canucks Around The World: SHL & Liiga

Vancouver Canucks 2026–27 Player Preview: Arshdeep Bains

Which Current Vancouver Canucks Players Will Most Likely Be Protected If An Expansion Draft Occurs In 2029

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SF Giants Videos: How do the Giants stay rested?

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 12: A general view of Oracle Park prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants on Friday, June 12, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Bryan Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Good morning, baseball fans!

At least, I hope it’s a good morning. The best mornings start with a great night’s sleep. So today, I thought we’d watch a video that the San Francisco Giants’ social media team put out recently where Dave Groeschner (vice-president of medical and performance) sits down to discuss how the Giants’ medical staff helps ensure the team gets the best sleep possible.

It is, essentially, an ad for Macini’s Sleepworld, the sponsor of the video. But it’s pretty interesting to see how the medical team prioritizes sleep as an important aspect of player health and performance. Most interesting to me, personally, is the sleep room that Mancini’s put together for the players inside of the ballpark. My co-workers and I have often said we wish our office had a rest room. Because sometimes when you’re not feeling well at work all you really need is just to be horizontal for a little while.

The sleep room that the Giants have features a couple of bunk beds and a gosh darn floating bed. The bed doesn’t float, but apparently it feels like you are when you are using it, which removes gravity as a factor and allows your body to release stress on your joints.

Gonna need every employer to catch up to the Giants on this front and institute a sleep room with a float bed as an employee perk.

What time do the Giants play today?

The Giants conclude this three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds this afternoon at 12:45 p.m. PT.

MLB News: Houston Astros Dan Brown, Giancarlo Stanton, Dolly Parton, Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes, Jacob deGrom

Happy Wednesday, everyone! As we barrel headlong towards the last month of the regular season, some teams are starting to take a look at their results and decide it’s time to make sweeping changes. We certainly haven’t seen the last big changes we’re likely to see over the coming weeks, but just in recent days, the Astros have parted ways with their GM Dana Brown, and the Marlins have parted ways with, well, their entire scouting department. As other teams (the Padres) are ready to tighten the purse strings for next season, the Dodgers might be doing shady things with their broadcast funds. Isn’t baseball fun?

Let’s just get right into today’s links, because there’s a lot to unpack.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.

Kansas City Royals news: Playoff hopium runs high

Kansas City Star’s Pete Grathoff weighs in on the Kansas City Royals’ glimmer of playoff hope following a red-hot run.

The bad news for the Royals: They have just 30 games to play and are 8 back in the wild-card standings. That’s a tough mountain to climb. The other daunting factor … seven teams are ahead of KC in the standings: the Guardians, Astros, Twins, Blue Jays, Orioles, Mariners and Tigers.

The good news: the middle of the American League playoff race is gooey and soft. There are just four teams with a winning record in the AL, and six make the postseason field. It’s quite possible the third and final wild-card team will have a losing record.

The hard truth: Baseball Prospectus has the Royals, who have a 58-74 record, with playoff chances equal with Bluto’s midterm grade-point average in “Animal House:” 0.0. It’s hard not to say that without the same contempt as Dean Wormer.

Kansas City Star’s Pete Grathoff highlights the Royals dropping in Awful Announcing’s baseball broadcast rankings, with some torn opinions on Rex Hudler in 2026.

There was praise for Bridget Howard, who is in her first season as a sideline reporter for the Royals. But the story circled back to Hudler, who had been doing most of the games with Lefebvre for the past decade-plus. Viewers don’t know who will be the Royals’ game analyst until they tune to that day’s game. “Some viewers feel there are ‘too many cooks in the kitchen’ due to a large, rotating cast of secondary analysts,” Keely wrote. “Sideline reporter Howard is noted as a ‘promising’ addition who is still finding her own voice. Overall, one’s tolerance for Hudler appears to be the deciding factor in how one appreciates these broadcasts.”

KSHB 41’s Charlie Keegan looks at the remaining “hurdles” between now and the Royals’ May 2027 groundbreaking for the new downtown stadium.

The first step comes Wednesday. A proposal about funding for the downtown stadium is listed on the agenda with Kansas City’s Tax Increment Financing commission. The meeting is expected to provide more details about how the city will pay for its portion of the stadium.

Sonya Brown, a casual Royals fan, said she is watching the financial details closely.

“I’m getting ready to retire soon, and I don’t want to end up paying a lot of taxes on stuff,” Brown said.

Field of Scheme’s Neil deMause details just how far Kansas City is trying to go to avoid a public vote in the Royals’ downtown stadium move.

The going interest rate for K.C.’s special obligation bonds, reports the Beacon, is 5.725%, compared to 4.25% for general obligation bonds. Applied to a $600 million loan, this means that Kansas City is going to be spending about $7 million a year extra on stadium bond payments in order to avoid a public vote. That’s money that, if it were used to finance other city spending, could cover about $117 million in different public needs, if the city had gone the voter-approval route for the Royals project. But you can’t put a price on not letting the people vote, or rather you can, and that price is $117 million.

Kings of Kauffman’s Caleb Moody says the Royals’ signing reliever Craig Kimbrel looks “like a stroke of genius”.

This stretch has also included Kimbrel notching save number 441 in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over the Tigers, which narrowed the gap between him at fifth and Lee Smith at fourth to 37. Whether or not he moves up in the ranks remains to be seen, but the fact he’s even performing to the rate of being worthy of save opportunities should exceed many expectations for him in Kansas City – and that’s saying a lot considering the Royals have been putrid in closing out games in the ninth in 2026.

And amid the Royals’ current eight-game winning streak, it’s worth noting the impact he’s made to help improve this bullpen to a state where a stretch like this is even achievable.

The Missouri Supreme Court will hear arguments next week in a lawsuit regarding the state’s stadium funding bill, which would affect the Royals’ planned funding for the downtown move.

The case centers on a lawsuit from Sen. Mike Moon, an Ash Grove Republican, Rep. Bryant Wolfin, a Ste. Genevieve Republican and conservative activist Ron Calzone, who argue that the law is unconstitutional and should be struck down.

Missouri lawmakers passed the law during a chaotic special session last year designed to keep both the Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs inside state lines. The funding package, called the Show-Me Sports Investment Act, allows the state to pay for up to 50% of new sports stadiums, but the state’s exact financial role in the Royals stadium remains unclear.

Tuesday’s arguments are poised to be largely procedural. Calzone and the two lawmakers will try to convince the state’s highest court that they have legal standing to bring the case after a Cole County judge dismissed the lawsuit earlier this year.

Royals Keep’s Mike Gillespie looks at Tyler Tolbert’s roster spot security for 2027.

The Athletic puts Kansas City at 26th in its latest power rankings.

FanGraphs’ Jay Jaffe doesn’t like Salvador Perez’s statistical profile for getting to Cooperstown.

Royals Keep’s Kevin O’Brien dissects five Royals bullpen arms trying to earn a spot in the team’s relief corps next season.

FanGraph’s Ben Clemens looks at what led to the Houston Astros and former general manager Dana Brown parting ways.

Has Cal Raleigh finally figured out his legacy-wrecking issues this season?

San Francisco Giants southpaw Carson Whisenhunt tears his UCL; surgery likely next.

San Diego Padres minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela is released from ICE custody.

Chicago White Sox reliever Huáscar Brazobán lands on the 15-day IL with a left lat strain.

The St. Louis Cardinals place shortstop Masyn Winn on the 10-day IL with a broken left thumb.

The Big Ten will not allow football players to return to their member schools’ teams, specifying “any player who has declared for the NFL draft and did not withdraw, appeared on an NFL roster, or signed a contract with a pro league cannot be on a Big Ten roster”. The SEC later banned players who have been drafted by NFL, NBA or WNBA teams or listed on rosters in those leagues.

AP gives its early prediction for which teams will reach the 2026 College Football Playoffs.

Dolly Parton, philanthropist, actress, singer, icon, passes away at 80.

Australia bans AI-generated music from official charts. “The crackdown comes as a variation of Madonna’s pop hit “Like a Prayer” created by an Australian producer using AI-generated vocals and drums has spent 16 weeks in the Australian top 20, stoking debate about generative AI’s place in music.“

The story behind some first-day fits for local students returning to school.

What is Johnson County doing to restore area prairies and habitats?

3D-printed concrete blocks developed by Kansas State University could provide a severe weather option for certain communities.

Today’s song of the day is Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton.

Wednesday Rockpile: Is the platoon system still working for the Rockies?

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 22: Colorado Rockies second baseman Willi Castro (3) prepares to bat in the first inning during a game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 22, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

There has been talk in the Purple Row comments of late about platoons. The 2026 Colorado Rockies have used the platoon system for a while, or at least it has been more apparent this season. Looking for every measure to gain an edge and win ballgames, the Rockies are using platoons as much as they can in the lineup, hoping to put forth the best matchups night after night.

Back in May, I asked: Is the platoon system working for the Rockies? For the most part, I concluded that it was working in theory, as the Rockies were getting the necessary production from players facing opposite-handed pitchers.

However, because the Rockies’ offense has struggled recently, it seemed worth asking a follow-up question: Is the platoon system still working for the Rockies?

For this article, we’ll be looking at the platoon splits since the start of June.

Team splits

Since June, the Rockies offense as a whole ranks

  • fifth in batting average (.258),
  • sixth in on-base percentage (.329), and
  • second in slugging percentage (.443).

In addition, the Rockies have the

  • ninth-most hits (623), and
  • fifth-most runs scored (369).

In most positive cases, the Rockies are a top-10 team offensively across the board in baseball.

Facing right-handed pitching

As for facing right-handed pitching, Colorado is batting .261/.334/.467 with a league-leading .801 OPS since June 1. They also rank seventh in home runs (71) while being 13th in runs scored (245). Meanwhile, the strikeout rate is at a reasonable 21.1%, and the walk rate comes in at 8.9%, which is 10th-highest.

Those numbers have been fairly consistent over the summer months. The Rockies had a .268 AVG in June and are currently sitting at that mark in August. As for July, the average dropped down to .248 while the .298 OBP was noticeably lower than the other two months, which makes sense because that was a tough month for the Rockies. Still, the team has continued finding overall success against right-handed pitching.

Facing left-handed pitching

There have also been some positive developments since the start of June concerning production against left-handed pitching. Over the summer, the Rockies are slashing .251/.320/.399, which places them in the top 15 in all three categories. They have the fourth-most hits (213) and the second-most runs scored against lefties (124) while leading the league with 120 RBI. The strikeout total is sixth-highest in the league (218), but they have the fifth-most walks (79), and the actual strikeout rates (22.9%) and walk rates (8.3%) are roughly league average.

Now, the heavy lifting in that production came in June when the Rockies hit .286/.338/.435 against southpaws. In July, they hit .244/.333/.369 and are hitting .215/.280/.388 in August, while strikeout and walk rates have dropped to league average after being 25.5% and 6.1% respectively in June.

As we know, however, these stats tell only part of the story. While they look good on paper, do the individual players reflect the success?

The lefty hitters

The left-handed hitters have found plenty of success for the Rockies this season. On a given night, the Rockies typically have three regular left-handed hitters and the addition of two switch-hitters (more on them later). The current roster also has three additional lefties coming off the bench.

Across the board, the lefties are successful against right-handed pitching. Since the start of June, there have been nine players hitting .250 or better against righties, seven of whom are currently on the big league roster. Jake McCarthy (.301) and TJ Rumfield (.300) lead the qualified lefties in batting average and are regular contributors in most categories.

Since returning from injury that cost him a month of games, Mickey Moniak has settled in with a .492 slugging against right-handed pitching with eight home runs. One of the bigger surprises has been Brett Sullivan, who has just 76 plate appearances against right-handed pitching since June, but is slashing .289/.337/.605 with six home runs.

The same success can’t be said of the players when facing left-handed pitchers. McCarthy has continued to be phenomenal, batting .298/.359/.548 with four home runs. Rumfield has also continued to be steady, particularly in his ability to draw walks against left-handed pitching. However, the other regulars on the current roster are not doing much against same-sided pitching.

Moniak has a whopping 31.7% strikeout rate while hitting .216/.244/.351 with just one home run. He has been kept in the lineup out of necessity when facing lefties, but the production has still not come for him as it has against righties.

The lack of success for most of the lefties against same-sided pitching makes it understandable as to why the Rockies deploy platoons more often.

However, the plan is only as successful as the players doing the platooning.

The righty hitters

As expected, Hunter Goodman has been the Rockies’ best weapon against left-handed pitching. Among the right-handed options since June 1, he is slashing .309/.415/.529 with four home runs and 16 RBI. Losing him to injury has left a hole in the lineup that the other right-handed options haven’t been able to fill.Braxton Fulford has gotten opportunities but is still slashing just .190/.261/.286 against lefties since June, including .167/.167/.167 in August.

The other bright spot — who is also injured — is Kyle Karros. Coinciding with his breakout summer, Karros has batted .296/.405/.437 against southpaws with 10 walks against 12 strikeouts. Jordan Beck also tends to find his success against lefties, slashing .278/.381/.333, and has continued that role since being recalled. Newcomer Connor Norby has been a welcome surprise in his brief sample of playing time, batting .333/.429/.417 in just 16 at-bats against lefties.

However, Tyler Freeman and Ezequiel Tovar have mostly been empty at-bats against lefties and righties, making it hard to fill out and balance the lineup, a fact that extends to most of the right-handed hitters when facing the same side.

Outside of Karros’ excellent .313/.395/.554 slash and Norby’s .261/.346/.522 slash, the right-handers are struggling against righties. Goodman has an excellent .645 SLG, but that has correlated with a 33.1% strikeout rate. Strikeouts as a whole are rampant among the right-handed hitters not named Karros and Freeman.

With Goodman and Karros on the Injured List, Freeman in Triple-A, and the other options not exactly thriving on either side of the platoon, it’s showing cracks in the offense. More than ever, the Rockies need better right-handed hitters.

The switch-hitters

It’s worth pointing out how impactful it’s been having two switch-hitters in the lineup who are regularly consistent on both sides of the plate.

Willi Castro is having a career year, particularly in the power department, but his ability to contribute on both sides of the plate is especially useful. Castro is batting .240/.291/.417 as a right-handed hitter this season. It is the weaker side of his splits, but it’s passable enough to utilize him in the lineup. As a left-handed hitter against righties, Castro is slashing .281/.373/.525 and has nine home runs, which leads the lefties on the team. He tends to walk much more as a lefty, while the strikeouts are fairly similar on either side of the plate, albeit still a little higher than league average.

Since arriving in June, Cole Carrigg has played with his hair on fire since arriving in June, and his splits as a switch-hitter have been promising as well. When facing left-handed pitching, Carrigg — a natural righty — is batting .296/.324/.480 with two home runs and 17 RBI. When he flips to the more prevalent left side of the plate, Carrigg is still batting .252/.387/.432 with a 15.3% walk rate against a 17.5% walk rate.

The fact that both switch hitters are consistent and productive on both sides of the plate is a significant asset for the club. Castro and Carrigg have been a driving force for the offense all summer, and their ability to post up every night and compete regardless of the handedness of the pitcher is the type of switch-hitting production the Rockies haven’t had in a long time.

Is it working?

In general, there is still a viable reason for the Rockies’ utilization of the platoon system. The opposite-handed batters are finding success against their counterpart on the mound. However, the issue stems less from the actual act of match-up hunting through platoons but more from the platoon players not being effective hitters, especially against left-handers.

The Rockies offense is much better this year, but it has a lot of work to do that doesn’t necessarily involve the act of platoons.

So yes, the idea of platooning is still working for the team, especially when fully healthy. It’s the players themselves that have to start pulling their weight even more.


On the Farm

Triple-A:Round Rock Express 5, Albuquerque Isotopes 4

It was a heartbreaker for the Albuquerque Isotopes as they surrendered two runs in the bottom of the ninth to give Round Rock a 5-4 walk-off victory. Parker Mushinski started the game as the opener, tossing two scoreless innings; Jarrod Cande was responsible for the first two runs given up out of the bullpen, followed by Blas Castaño’s one run in two innings of relief. The pen held firm with two scoreless innings from Evan Shawver, but TJ Shook ended up with the loss after giving up a two-run double to end the game. Bryant Betancourt had another good night, going 2-for-4, while Sterlin Thompson also went 2-for-4 with two walks.

Double-A:Hartford Yard Goats 8, New Hampshire Fisher Cats 2

The Hartford Yard Goats had a quality offensive night, scoring eight runs on 12 hits en route to victory. Andy Perez and Jacob Humphrey each had three hits at the top of the order. Dyan Jorge had two hits and drove in three runs while the newly promoted Roynier Hernandez had two RBI as part of a 0-for-4 night. On the mound, Stu Flesland III made the start and allowed two runs through four innings before giving way to a bullpen that allowed just two hits and a walk with six strikeouts over five innings.

High-A:Vancouver Canadians 6, Spokane Indians 1

The Spokane Indians struggled to come through offensively all night but avoided the shutout by scoring a run in the ninth inning as they fell 6-1. Lorenzo Carrier had an excellent night, going 3-for-4 on the night. Not much else happened for the Indians as Blake Penso’s single in the ninth drove in the only run. On the mound, Everett Catlett kept things close after going five innings and allowing just one run. However, Justin Loer gave up three runs in the sixth inning, recording just two outs. Luke Hansel then took over and allowed two unearned runs in his 1.1 innings of work, giving up just one hit and allowing two walks.

Low-A:Inland Empire 66ers 8, Fresno Grizzlies 0

The Fresno Grizzlies had a tough night on offense, mustering just five hits as they struck out 12 times and were shut out. Cort MacDonald led the offense with two singles, but the team went 0-for-8 with RISP. The pitching didn’t fare much better as Sandy Ozuna started the game and went just 2.2 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, followed by Manuel Olivares, who took the brunt of the damage. He worked 4.1 innings, but gave up five runs on seven hits.


Rockies Reacts Survey: Where will Kyle Freeland pitch in 2027?


Affected by Altitude Episode 222: Injuries In the Dog Days of Summer | Rocky Mountain Rooftop

This week, Evan Lang and I talk about the roster shuffling and promotions due to injuries as well as the removals of Michael Lorenzen and Edouard Julien.

Colorado Rockies Unveil Bronze Statue of Larry Walker: “I Don’t Deserve That” | Just Baseball

Patrick Lyons shares his viewpoints from the unveiling of the Larry Walker statue on Sunday.


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