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Orioles-Nationals series preview: Battle of the Beltways heads to Baltimore

WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - MAY 17, 2026: Coby Mayo #16 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a two-run home run during the second inning of an interleague game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 17, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. The Nationals beat the Orioles, 7-3. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

The Orioles return to Baltimore this weekend as frustrating and confounding as ever, with the team returning home after their West Coast road trip. When the O’s left for their three-series West Coast swing against the Mariners, Dodgers and Angels, they were five games under .500 and two games out of a Wild Card spot. They now return to Baltimore six games under .500 and still two games out of the final AL playoff spot.

The O’s next chance at trying (and likely failing) to build some positive momentum comes against their local rivals, the Nationals. The DC ball club comes into this series in a similar position as the Orioles. Sure, they’re actually at .500, but a stacked National League currently has the Nats 3 games outside the NL playoff picture.

This will be the second Battle of the Beltways this season, with the Orioles dropping two out of three in DC back in the middle of May. That series served as a concise example of the frustrating reality of the 2026 Orioles.

In Game 1, the O’s lost 3-2 in a game that saw them fail to take advantage of a starting pitcher with a 6.00+ ERA and where they didn’t score until the 9th inning. Game 2 was a different type of embarrassing loss, where a seven-run 7th inning turned a 4-3 close game into a 13-3 blowout. Game 3 was a completely different story, as the offense came alive from the first inning, raced out to an early 6-2 lead, and coasted to a 7-3 win behind a strong performance from Brandon Young and the bullpen.

Since that game, both teams have hovered around .500, struggling to get a foothold in either league’s playoff race. The O’s are 17-18 in the month-plus since their last meeting with the Nats, and have never gotten closer to .500 than two games under. The Nationals are18-17 in their 35 games since facing the O’s, at one point getting to four games above .500, but have lost [five/six] of their last eight.

The good news for Birdland is that the Orioles have typically found success against the Nationals in Camden Yards. Prior to last season, the O’s were 9-5 against the Nats at Camden Yards in the Mike Elias era. However, the Nationals did sweep the Orioles in Camden Yards last May, with the first game of that series being the last game of Brandon Hyde’s tenure in Baltimore. The O’s will need to return the favor this year if they want to finish the season with a winning record against their National League neighbors.

Game 1, Friday, June 26th, 7:05pm ET

Probable pitchers: LHP Trevor Rogers (4-7, 5.30 ERA, 54 K) vs. TBD

Where to watch: MASN/MASN+

Trevor Rogers is the starting pitcher whose best epitomised the maddening lack of consistency from the Orioles, but glimpses of 2025 Trevor Rogers have started to peek through the cracks in June. After posting a 10.31 ERA in 18.1 innings across four starts in May, Rogers is rounding back into ace form this month. Across his last four outings, he has an ERA of 2.22, is averaging just over six innings per start and is holding opposing hitters to a .195 average. His most recent outing, in Dodger Stadium, was the best of his 2026 campaign, as he held the two-time defending champions to one hit and two walks over seven scoreless innings.

Rogers only has one career appearance against the Nationals as a member of the Orioles, back in 2024. In his third start after coming over from the Marlins, the Nats battered Rogers to the tune of 5 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 2 BB and 2 K.

In 10 career starts against Washington as a member of the Marlins, Rogers was typically good, putting up a 3.35 ERA with a .234 BAA. That past success may not matter this season, though, as the Nationals have also crushed left-handed pitching this season. Washington leads the MLB with a .274 average and .793 OPS vs. southpaws, though that OPS drops to .752 against left-handed starters.

While the Nationals hadn’t announced their starters yet at the time of writing, left-hander Andrew Alvarez should make his first career start vs. Baltimore. The 27-year-old lefty out of Cal Poly relies heavily on his two breaking balls, throwing his curveball and slider a combined 47% of the time. Any time a lefty is on the mound, it presents a good matchup for 3B Coby Mayo. The 24-year-old has a 1.111 OPS vs. LHPs and is one of the best hitters in baseball against southpaws.

Game 2, Saturday, June 27th, 7:05pm ET

Probable pitchers: RHP Brandong Young (6-2, 3.07 ERA, 49 K) vs. TBD

Where to watch: MASN/MASN+

This season, Brandon Young has held a similar role to 2025 Trevor Roger: the pitcher that seemingly comes out of nowhere to become the most consistent pitcher in the Orioles rotation. After making an abbreviated start against the Nats back in May, Young has been the model of consistency for Baltimore. In six outings since, the 27-year-old Texan has five quality starts, a 2.15 ERA, a .219 BAA and is averaging 6.1 IP per start.

And like Rogers last year, a Brandon Young start has usually meant a guaranteed win for the O’s. Baltimore is 10-2 in games started by BY this season, 5-1 at Camden Yards and is on a four-game win streak when Young takes the mound at home.

It will be a matchup of strength vs. strength in Young vs. the Nats upstart offense. The Orioles starter’s four-seam fastball has been one of the best heaters in all of baseball this season, as it ranks ninth in Run Value and 16th in BAA among 212 qualified pitchers. However, Nationals stars CJ Abrams and James Wood have both crushed fastballs this year, ranking third and 14th, respectively, in Run Value produced against four-seamers.

The Nats should counter Young with journeyman right-hander Foster Griffin. The 30-year-old spent the last three years in Japan and is now enjoying the first extended run of his Major League career. Prior to going to Japan, Griffin had a 6.75 ERA in eight career MLB innings. This season with Washington, Griffin has a 3.15 ERA in 91.1 innings and leads all Nats pitchers with a 2.3 bWAR. The soft-tossing lefty has led with his cutter most of the year, but features a true seven-pitch mix.

Game 3, Sunday, June 28th, 1:35pm ET

Probable pitchers: RHP Kyle Bradish (5-7, 3.64 ERA, 94 K) vs. TBD

Where to watch: MASN/MASN+

While Kyle Bradish hasn’t been as consistent as Rogers or Young in June, the Orioles’ former ace comes into Sunday’s start off the best back-to-back starts of his career. Nine days ago in Seattle, Bradish delivered his best start of the season (up until then), posting a line of 7.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB and 12 Ks–with the 12 strikeouts setting a new career-high for the 29-year-old.

He then went out and one-upped himself in his start against the Dodgers, pitching eight shutout innings with nine Ks against the defending champs. The past two starts marked the first time in Bradish’s career that he’s pitched into the 8th inning in back-to-back outings.

Sunday will mark the first time Bradish has faced off against the Nationals since before his elbow injury in 2024. In his second start of the 2024 season, he held the Nats to one run on four hits over five innings with nine Ks. It was the first time he’d allowed a run against Washington, as he previously combined for 14 innings of shutout baseball across two starts vs. the Nationals in 2023.

To oppose Bradish, the Nats could turn to former Ray Zack Littell or turn Sunday into a bullpen game. Littell pitched well against the Orioles back in May, holding the O’s scoreless over five innings while only allowing two hits. Washington has used Littell four times this season as the follower to an opener, including his most recent appearances against the Phillies–when he allowed two runs over four innings in a 14-9 loss.

Let us know in the comments whether the O’s can even the score against the Nationals or whether it’ll be another disappointing series of Orioles’ baseball this weekend.

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Mariners News: Andrés Muñoz, Miles Mastrobuoni, and Corey Seager

Jun 25, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) turns a double play against Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Ernie Clement (not pictured) first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (not pictured) during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Good morning folks and happy Friday!

The Mariners had another stinker of a performance last night, dropping the series finale to the Pirates 5-1 which brings them back to .500 on the season. The M’s will try to get back in the win column with the first of three games in Cleveland starting this afternoon.

The good news is that Bryce Miller seems to have taken a serious step forward. Where would you slot him into your personal ranking of the Mariners’ starting pitchers at this moment?

In Mariners news…

Around the league…

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Rain washes out Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JUNE 25: A general view of Busch Stadium during a rain delay prior to a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Busch Stadium on June 25, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Diamondbacks News

(Burn City Sports) Diamondbacks’ Paul Sewald calls out Cardinals after rainout costs Arizona an off day

The Diamondbacks and Cardinals were scheduled to conclude their four-game series Thursday, but with rain in the forecast, St. Louis announced on its X account that the game would be rescheduled for July 23. According to Sewald’s post on X, Arizona had asked the home club to move the game earlier in the day to avoid the postponement.

“No you’re right thank you @Cardinals for not moving our game up to this afternoon when we politely asked given the whole world knew it was going to rain tonight. I actually was really hoping we could lose an off day and turn it into a 4 city road trip.”

(Arizona Sports) Diamondbacks-Cardinals series finale at Busch Stadium postponed due to weather

The Arizona Diamondbacks’ road game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday has been postponed due to inclement weather, the Cardinals announced.

The game was scheduled to start at 4:45 p.m. MST, but the forecast provided doubt that baseball would be played.

(ESPN) Diamondbacks activate Max Kepler after 80-game suspension

The Arizona Diamondbacks activated outfielder Max Kepler from the restricted list Thursday following his completion of an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

Kepler, who signed a free agent deal with the Diamondbacks on June 7, hit .333 with two home runs in 10 minor league games. He was fifth in the batting order and set to play left field for the Diamondbacks against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night, but the game was postponed by rain.

MLB News

(Bleacher Report) MLBPA Reportedly Proposes Ban on Prop Bets on Individual Players in CBA Talks

With the rise of legalized sports betting in recent years, several MLB players have spoken about the criticism that they’ve received from people blaming them for failed bets.

As part of Thursday’s proposal, the MLBPA also asked MLB to clarify that players are permitted to engage in endorsements and sponsorships from legal betting operators and prediction markets (via Purdum and Passan).

(Yahoo! Sports) MLB makes big push for salary cap, floor with public statement outlining labor negotiations with MLBPA

That changed Thursday, when MLB put out a league-approved campaign making a hard push for a salary cap and salary floor. The campaign, which is titled “Leveling the Playing Field,” makes the argument that the spending gap between teams has reached a breaking point and that a salary cap and salary floor are necessary to fix the game.

In an effort to spread the word about the campaign, MLB launched a website dedicated to the cause, which features five tabs explaining why the league believes the sport needs a salary cap.

(CBS Sports) How Jacob Misiorowski got this good: Inside the Brewers ace’s transcendence into one of MLB’s best pitchers

If young Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski were part of the Greek or Roman pantheon, then he’d probably be pulling double duty right about now. Among the elemental gods, Misiorowski was already in charge of fire — this, after all, is a pitcher whose first three pitches in the majors were in excess of 100 mph. Now, though, Misiorowski has expanded his jurisdiction to include earth — mound dirt, to be more specific. Indeed, the 24-year-old primal force known informally as “The Miz” is throwing harder than ever (and harder than any starting pitcher ever), and he’s also harnessed that fiery stuff to go from occasionally dominant but flawed to just plainly overwhelming. The best pitcher in the world is right now equal parts thrower and pitcher, equal parts fire and earth.

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Yankees Rivalry Roundup: Caminero puts a hurtin’ on Kansas City

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JUNE 25: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates his home run against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on June 25, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Yankees lost some ground in the American League East on Thursday. A tough loss in Fenway, combined with a dominant win by the Rays brings New York’s division lead down to 2.5 games. The day’s short schedule still provided plenty of pop, excellent pitching, and plenty to pay attention to around the American League. Let’s take a look at how it all shook out.

Tampa Bay Rays (45-33) 13, Kansas City Royals (34-48) 2

The Rays jumped ahead early on Thursday, and they never looked back in a convincing win over the Royals in St. Pete. Tampa Bay took that early lead in the bottom half of the first, when Junior Caminero belted a two-run home run, his 17th on the season, giving his club a lead they’d never surrender.

It was also the beginning of big-time day for the Rays’ slugger, as he stayed hot with a solo home run in the fifth inning. In the eighth, Caminero put a bow on his massive night, when he launched his third home run of the game, this one extending their lead well into blow-out territory.

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Shortly after that first homer, the Rays turned to their bulk pitcher for the evening, Ian Seymour, who was terrific in his outing. Entering in the second inning, and working 6.2 frames in total, the lefty kept the Royals scoreless and hitless, while striking out seven in a sparkling appearance.

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Beyond Caminero’s damage, plenty of other Rays got in on the action on Thursday. Victor Mesa Jr. blew the game open with a three-run shot in the fourth, while Johnathan Aranda tallied three hits, and Richie Palacios and Cedric Mullins each had a pair. With a multi-run lead for almost the entire game, Tampa Bay put the nail in the coffin with a five-run eighth inning, which was punctuated by Caminero’s third homer.

On the pitching side, the Rays actually had a combined no-hitter going into the ninth inning, as the Royals had little to say with the bats. There would be some late life, however, when Carter Jensen simultaneously ended the no-no and the shutout with a two-run homer in the ninth off of Craig Kimbrel. Nonetheless, it was a dominant win for the Rays from all angles, and it helps them gain some ground in the East with the Yankees’ loss.

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Other Games

Pittsburgh Pirates (41-40) 5, Seattle Mariners (41-41) 1:

With a loss on Thursday, the Mariners drop to .500 on the season, but still hold first place in the underwhelming West. Brandon Lowe swatted his 19th homer of the season in the first for the Pirates, and they held that lead until the end. Seattle’s lone run came in the fifth thanks to an RBI from J.P. Crawford, but it wasn’t enough as the Buccos countered with a pair of runs in each of the fourth and eighth innings. Bubba Chandler was excellent for Pittsburgh in his 5.1 innings, setting up a spotless evening for their bullpen after his departure.

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Texas Rangers (39-42) 6, Toronto Blue Jays (39-42) 5:

The Rangers did much of their damage in just one inning to scrape a win on Thursday. In the third inning, up 1-0, a three-run shot from Wyatt Langford and a two-run blast from Jake Burger plated five runs in the inning, and had Texas up 6-0 early on. The Jays weren’t dead in the water, however, as a Myles Straw double helped cut the deficit in half in the fifth inning, and Kazuma Okamoto’s two-run homer in the ninth cut it to just one run. It ultimately wasn’t quite enough, as the Jays fell just short in their comeback effort.

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Braves Minor League Recap: McKenzie Dominant; Lodise Homers Again

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2026: Alex Lodise #74 of the Atlanta Braves in the field during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

There were some outstanding performances across the system for the Atlanta Braves affiliates, none more impressive than the dominant outing from Briggs McKenzie. McKenzie was moved to High-A aggressively and had two lackluster starts after that, but put it all together in the third of those with eight strikeouts and no earned runs allowed. Meanwhile Alex Lodise is the hottest hitter in the system and he went deep for Augusta again, then went and had the go-ahead hit for the GreenJackets in extra innings. Even in Columbus Patrick Clohisy had three extra base hits and Cedric De Grandpre struck out seven. It was a top-to-bottom collection of notable performances on an exciting day in the system.

(39-38) Gwinnett Stripers 0, (45-33) Nashville Sounds 3

Box Score

Statcast

  • Jim Jarvis, SS: 0-2, 2 BB, .307/.403/.462
  • Brett Wisely, 2B: 1-3 .307/.409/.467
  • Owen Murphy, SP: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 4.31 ERA
  • Elieser Hernandez, RP: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 4.96 ERA

Owen Murphy had his worse start in over a month, but given the standards he has set for himself in recent weeks that still wasn’t a terrible day at the office for most pitchers. The offense absolutely let him and Elieser Hernandez down, however. The team managed just two hits across the lineup and were putting up pitiful contact quality, so the times that Murphy slipped were magnified in the outcome of the game. Cal Conley gave the team the best chance to scratch out a run of any of the hitters and was part of the two early scoring chances that went to waste. He lined a single into center field to lead off the third inning and advanced around to third after a stolen base and a ground out, but a check-swing soft liner over to third had him between bases and he was doubled off to end a promising inning. In the fifth he was one of three Stripers to draw walks and load the bases, but DaShawn Keirsey Jr. hit a hot ground ball within range of the second baseman and Gwinnett came up empty again.

Owen Murphy’s command in this game was a little bit shakier than it has been in recent history, and without the higher levels of refinement in his location he didn’t miss as many bats and got hit harder than we’ve been seeing in recent weeks. He also had a matchup against a Sounds team that as a unit does not swing and miss very often, with the least number of strikeouts in the International League, and it was across the board that his whiff rates dipped. All of his pitches sort of compressed into the middle to top third portions of the strike zone, wth his fastball not getting on the top edge and his slider staying over the middle of the plate. His changeup and curveball lacked enough control to really be effective pitches in this game for him, leaving him with even less leeway with his offerings. In the end though he threw enough strikes to at least keep the team in the game, and if this is the worst we’ve seen of him over the past month and a half that’s not a particular bad version of him as a pitcher. He made some mistakes and didn’t have his A game, but still managed to find a lot of strikes with his fastball and kept the ball off of barrels.

Swing and Misses

Owen Murphy – 8

Elieser Hernandez – 5

(30-37) Columbus Clingstones 9, (37-34) Rocket City Trash Pandas 4

Box Score

  • Patrick Clohisy, CF: 3-4, HR, 2 2B, 3 RBI, .264/.331/.449
  • Luke Waddell, SS: 1-4, RBI, .200/.333/.300
  • Cedric De Grandpre, SP: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 7 K, 11.57 ERA

Patrick Clohisy had by far the best game of his season and extended his hot streak to round out June with a three extra base hit performance and his second home run in as many days. In the fourth inning Clohisy got a breaking ball that spun right into his wheelhouse and waited on him to get to it, and he hit that ball further than I’ve ever seen him hit a ball in a game. Patrick Clohisy no-doubters are not a common sight but he got every single stitch on that swing. He was also responsible for sparking a rally in the first inning with a leadoff ground-rule double. Columbus would go on to score three runs to open up a good early lead, with the biggest swing being Jordan Groshan’s two-run double. After a pretty slow start to the season in regards to his power Clohisy has turned it up in a big way in the recent weeks, and is starting to elevate his hard hit balls like he did towards the end of last season. For parts of the season the timing of his swing was off and he was getting open to soon and swinging over balls, but right now he has his swing locked in and is absolutely drilling the ball on his pull side. The Braves have been placing an emphasis on getting Clohisy to pull the ball more to start to dip into the power and even with his ups and downs over the past couple of seasons that has manifested with a guy who I think has still been the best he has in his career this season even during the times he wasn’t having as much batted ball luck. He is almost certain to cruise to a career-high in home runs (though I imagine Triple-A will call on him and give him a test at some point) and add in that he is on pace to clear 50 stolen bases again and he has certainly continued to give the notion that he has enough value to fit either as a depth piece at the upper levels or a fourth or fifth outfielder.

Cedric De Grandpre was welcomed rudely to Double-A last week, but turned it around and had a solid start this week. Walks were the big issue for De Grandpre, but that is something expected for him at this point given where his control development is. The important fact was that he missed a lot of bats and his slider is starting to take shape, and even though his strike-throwing hasn’t taken a leap forward this season his command is. He has started to land his slider at or below the bottom of the strike zone with much more regularity, and if he is going to carve out a major league career that is the pitch that is going to get him there. At times since Tommy John surgery his slider just was not in the form it was prior to surgery but it was in peak condition for sure on Thursday evening, and with as good as the pitch was it made his fastball play even better. Hitters were looking for the slider in strikeout counts and De Grandpre was able to sneak some fastballs by them that made them look foolish. I’m still of the opinion that De Grandpre’s future is best served in the bullpen, though that’s developed from concerns about his changeup pre-surgery to worries about command now, and that slider is a pitch that is good enough for him to use at a high rate and still get major league hitters out. If he can find more consistent command of that pitch like he had on Thursday night he could be a guy we start talking about heading into next season.

Swing and Misses

Cedric De Grandpre – 16

Isaac Gallegos – 7

(35-35) Rome Emperors 2, (45-27) Greensboro Grasshoppers 3

Box Score

  • Tate Southisene, SS: 1-3, 2 BB, .204/.377/.296
  • John Gil, 2B: 1-4, 2B, BB, .274/.368/.436
  • Eric Hartman, CF: 0-4, BB, .297/.359/.560
  • Isaiah Drake, LF: 2-4, RBI, .251/.332/.406
  • Briggs McKenzie, SP: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 4.66 ERA

After a two-start adjustment period Briggs McKenzie seems to be enjoying Rome. He had a brief period in the first inning where he was having a bit of trouble locking in his command of his secondaries and he coughed up a run (which was generously considered unearned), but that was the only sign of trouble all game. McKenzie was a big prospect coming out of high school but I’m still astonished at how quickly he has developed his game at the professional level, and a guy who can locate three MLB quality pitches at this stage in his career is considerably rare. His changeup is better than I expected, though if I had some criticism of McKenzie it’s that he tends to speed up his arm on his fastball in late count situations which does hurt both his command and how deceptive his changeup is. Most of McKenzie’s success at getting swinging strikeouts, even against right handed hitters, has come on his breaking balls, but it’s the best curveball in the system so that’s just using what works. We only have two starts from McKenzie and two of those weren’t good, but still it’s looking like he might just be one of those guys. The athleticism and body control is impressive, he already has an arsenal of pitches that could have success at the big league level, and he’s improving everything rapidly. There’s a lot of work left to do in refining his command, and pitching prospects have a lot of speed bumps they could hit, but this is about as good as it gets for a guy this young. He’s ticked every box I look for early on.

The offensive production this game left much to be desired, though the Braves still got production from the top five in the order which is all we’re really looking for. Among those only Eric Hartman came away without a hit, though he did thankfully draw a walk. Hartman has looked great this month and every month and has done a great job of continuing to improve his contact rates, but he’s been a bit aggressive at the plate and only drawn four walks so far in June. Not a major concern yet as he has up to this point never been a guy who is too aggressive for his own good, but it would be nice to see him be a tiny bit more selective working ahead. John Gil didn’t hit the ball very hard today and got lucky on his double that it managed to find some grass, though he’s earned a bad game or two with how well he has hit everything this month. Tate Southisene drew two more walks in this game, and he has been on a crazy walk binge with eight over his past five games. His contact quality at High-A has taken a major hit and he is also striking out more often, with that patience at the plate maybe playing against him just a little bit, but this is the same pattern we saw for him at Augusta. It took him a couple of weeks there to really lock in his approach and start hitting the ball hard all over the field, and with as good as his at bats have started to look I wouldn’t be surprised to see a repeat of that trend in the near future for Rome.

Swing and Misses 

Briggs McKenzie – 13

Jarret Whorff – 4

Logan Samuels – 3

(40-32) Augusta GreenJackets 4, (40-32) Charleston RiverDogs 3

Box Score

  • Luis Guanipa, CF: 0-5, .322/.376/.491
  • Conor Essenburg, RF: 2-5, 2B, .264/.399/.473
  • Alex Lodise, SS: 2-4, HR, BB, 3 RBI, .254/.347/.457
  • Derek Vartanian, SP: 6.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 3.78 ERA

Alex Lodise continued his wild hot streak for the GreenJackets with another home run, putting Augusta up early in this game. For Lodise that is his sixth home run over his past eight games, but he wasn’t done making an impact on this game. Both teams held on with three runs after nine and went through the tenth scoreless, bringing up the top of the order for Augusta in the top of the 11th inning. Lodise had a matchup against a lefty with an extreme sidearm delivery but showed a good approach on a sinker tailing away from him on the outer edge and was able to shoot a hard liner through the right side of the infield for a go-ahead single. Lodise’s explosion at the plate has been triggered partly by a much more patient approach at the plate. Early in the season Lodise was swinging at everything and his lack of selectiveness really hurt his contact quality, but lately he has really been chasing power contact early in counts. His whiff rates mean that’s going to come with the downside of more strikeouts, but with his power if he can just draw more walks these sorts of results are what will happen. Prior to that Lodise long ball Conor Essenburg made his biggest mark on the game by shooting a fly ball into the right center field gap for a double as part of his two-hit evening. Essenburg added a couple of strikeouts to his ever-increasing total and that’s still the major red flag in his profile, but it’s really not as dire as the recent results may indicate. His contact rate is steadily climbing after being pretty rough early in the season, but like Lodise he has settled down and been drawing a lot more walks over the past couple of weeks and that has just put him into more deep counts that lead to strikeouts. The process behind the scenes for Essenburg is churning and he seems to be caught in a bit of an approach transition right now, but there are some positive signs for him and overall he has obviously been very impressive with how hard he hits the ball. Essenburg has shown an aptitude for adjustment even in the limited sample size we’ve seen from him so I’m bullish on him for the second half of the season and expect things to click into place fpr him a bit more on the strikeout front.

Swing and Misses

Derek Vartanian – 11

Kade Woods – 5

Jaylen Paden – 4

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Syracuse men’s basketball: former Orange get NBA opportunity

Jan 10, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Syracuse Orange forward William Kyle III (right) dunks over Pittsburgh Panthers forward Cameron Corhen (middle) during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The dust has finally settled on the 2026 NBA Draft, and while no Syracuse Orange players from the 2025-26 roster were selected, a few will be getting the chance to secure a permanent spot in the league.

Syracuse center William Kyle III will be on an Exhibit 10 deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

After two seasons at San Diego State and one with UCLA, Kyle III finished his collegiate career with the Orange. He averaged 8.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in 28.1 minutes per game. In his lone year at Syracuse, Kyle started in all of the team’s games in 2025-26.

Center will certainly be a position of need for the Lakers. Starting center Deandre Ayton has a player option for the 2026-27 season. He started in 72 games for L.A. last season. Even if he picks up that option, Ayton projects as the only center left on the roster heading into free agency. It will be a key position for the Lakers, who need rim protection and a lob threat for Luka Dončić.

A second player from last year’s Syracuse roster will also get a chance to shine and compete at the next level.

Guard Nate Kingz is reportedly signing a deal to play on the Miami Heat’s Summer League team, per Dushawn London of 247Sports.

Like Kyle, Kingz transferred to the Orange in 2025 from Oregon State and played his final college season in Upstate New York. He averaged 12.2 points and 3.6 rebounds, shooting 49% from the field and nearly 37% from three as a full-time starter last year.

It’s an interesting time for Miami, which recently acquired superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster deal. The Heat have limited cap flexibility and less depth after the trade, especially on the perimeter, giving Kingz a prime opportunity to stand out.

There was a former Orange player who did hear his named called during the Draft.

The San Antonio Spurs selected former Syracuse forward Maliq Brown in the second round with the No. 44 overall pick (writer’s note: #brand). Brown began his collegiate career with the Orange and played two seasons there, developing into one of the best defenders in the ACC (and arguably in the country).

Brown would eventually depart from New York to North Carolina, transferring to the Duke Blue Devils, where he played the last two years. He averaged 5.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.6 steals in 125 career games.

Brown is joining a Spurs team coming off a trip to the 2026 NBA Finals, led by MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama. That said, San Antonio looked to address its frontcourt depth, especially at the four spot, this offseason. Brown joins Wembanyama and a young, promising roster.

Two other former Syracuse players signed with NBA squads. Guard Quadir Copeland will be signing a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets, according to Jake Fischer. Forward Chris Bell signed with the New Orleans Pelicans on an Exhibit 10 deal per Jake Weingarten of StockRisers.

Copeland will join a Houston team that’s in an interesting spot. Despite trading for Kevin Durant one offseason ago, the Rockets were dispatched by the Lakers in Round One of the playoffs. Bell joins a Pelicans team which is still rebuilding so we’ll see if these players can impress in Summer League.

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Isaiah Evans, Otega Oweh among second-rounders who could be fantasy-relevant

While most rookies fail to be impact options for fantasy managers in their debut seasons, that does not mean that managers can't find value. Beyond the few at the top of a draft class who are must-draft players, many tend to be specialists, offering value in a handful of categories. And that isn't limited to first-rounders, either.

Within the 2026 draft class, there are some second-round picks who are in situations where they have the potential to achieve fantasy relevance as rookies. Below are a few players who may be worth rostering in deeper leagues next season.

G/F Isaiah Evans, Minnesota Timberwolves

Many expected Evans to hear his name called during the first round, and that likely includes the NBA, which invited him to the Green Room for Tuesday's portion of the draft. Instead, he went 33rd overall to the Timberwolves, and the former Duke wing is in a position to contribute immediately. With the Timberwolves adding LaMelo Ball but losing two key contributors in Julius Randle and Naz Reid, there will be a need for production beyond Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Ayo Dosunmu.

Evans shot 36.1 percent from three on 7.4 attempts per game as a sophomore, and the free-throw percentage (86.0) suggests that he can be a capable perimeter shooter at the NBA level. Add in Ball's injury history, and there should be opportunities for Evans to offer value, even if he and the Timberwolves' newest point guard don't play the same position.

G/F Otega Oweh, Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder are among a few contenders with significant decisions to make in free agency, as Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein have sizable team options for 2026-27. Dort's future in Oklahoma City is most significant when assessing Oweh's value; if the Thunder decide to move on from the veteran wing defender, the 41st overall pick out of Kentucky has the physical build needed to potentially help fill the void. Also, while Oweh does need to improve his perimeter shot, he brings a bit more to the table offensively than Dort did as a rookie.

C Henri Veesaar, Atlanta Hawks

Like Evans, there was no shortage of draft evaluators who projected the 7-foot Veesaar to go in the first round. Shockingly, he remained on the board until pick No. 52, when the Hawks took him off the board. Atlanta may still look to add a more experienced center in free agency, but between Veesaar and first-round pick Zuby Ejiofor, the franchise added much-needed depth to the frontcourt. During his lone season at North Carolina, Veesaar was much-improved as a rebounder and scorer, and he's able to provide some value as a stretch big.

F/C Trevon Brazile, Denver Nuggets

Brazile is not a traditional center, but the defensive effort and athleticism give him an opportunity to fight for minutes as a rookie. It's unknown what the Nuggets will do with Jonas Valančiūnas, whose contract for next season is partially guaranteed, and Zeke Nnaji is once again the subject of trade rumors. Given Brazile's tools, he can be used at the four or the five, depending on the situation. He's unlikely to be a player who should be selected in most drafts, but it would be unsurprising if Brazile had streaming value at some point next season.

C Ugonna Onyenso, Detroit Pistons

The Pistons' decision to move on from Isaiah Stewart means that Paul Reed ascends into the backup center role, a change that was unsurprising given how the postseason went. And that opens up the third center spot within the rotation, and Onyenso's defensive ability makes him a worthy candidate for that role. In his lone season at Virginia, the 6-foot-11 center led the ACC with 2.9 blocks per game, and he totaled 21 rejections over the course of three games at the ACC tournament.

G Emanuel Sharp, Sacramento Kings

The Kings are rebuilding; how much the younger players get to play depends in part on which veterans the team can move. In a wise approach, Sacramento used its draft picks on players from winning college programs: first-rounders Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas) and Alex Karaban (UConn), and second-round pick Sharp (Houston). Sharp is a capable defender who can also knock down shots, as he was nearly a 38 percent shooter from three and 87 percent from the foul line for his college career. Given how strong the West once again projects to be, Sharp is someone who could be a "silly season" standout if his name isn't called early in the season by head coach Doug Christie.

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Mets fire Mendoza

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 01: Manager Carlos Mendoza #64 of the New York Mets looks on before the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on June 01, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The New York Mets have fired manager Carlos Mendoza, per multiple reports.

This move seemed inevitable. Despite having the highest payroll in MLB, since starting the season with a 7-4 record, the team has gone 27-43, and has lost their last six in a row. They just got swept in a four game series at home by the Chicago Cubs, including an embarrassing 10-5 loss in the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday that saw the Mets make six errors.

The Mets have, for the last year, been pretty terrible. On June 12, 2025, they were in first place in the National League East with a 45-24 record. They went 38-54 the rest of the way, finishing in second place in the N.L. East, 13 games out, and missed the playoffs. They are 72-101 in their last 173 games.

Mendoza was a coach in the New York Yankees’ minor league system from 2009 through 2017, then was on the major league coaching staff for the Yankees from 2018 through 2023. He was hired by the Mets after the 2023 season to replace Buck Showalter, who had gone 75-87 in his second season as the Mets’ manager.

Mendoza’s 2024 Mets squad finished third in the National League East with an 89-73 record, but claimed a Wild Card spot and advanced to the NLCS, where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Andy Green has been named as the interim replacement for Mendoza.

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Sixers have their 2026 summer league schedule

Sixers have their 2026 summer league schedule  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Summer league basketball is on the horizon for the Sixers.

The NBA on Friday released the full schedule for its 2026 summer league in Las Vegas, which will run from July 9 through July 19. Below is the Sixers’ slate:

  • Thursday, July 9 at 5:30 p.m. ET: Sixers vs. Pistons on Prime Video 
  • Saturday, July 11 at 5:30 p.m. ET: Sixers vs. Pacers on Prime Video 
  • Tuesday, July 14 at 4 p.m. ET: Sixers vs. Rockets on Prime Video 
  • Wednesday, July 15 at 4 p.m. ET: Sixers vs. Magic on ESPNU

Detailis for each team’s fifth game will be based on how the standings shake out. Semifinal games are scheduled for July 18 and the championship is set for July 19.

The Sixers are not one of the participants this year in the Salt Lake City summer league (or the California Classic), so the 30-team Las Vegas event is the only summer league on their calendar. 

While the Sixers have yet release a summer league roster, their team will presumably feature No. 22 overall pick Labaron Philon Jr.

Former Bowling Green guard Javontae Campbell and former Hawaii center Isaac Johnson will be members of the Sixers’ summer league roster, their schools announced. More undrafted summer pickups will pop up in the coming days. 

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Steinline: Nets have ‘legitimate interest’ in Mitchell Robinson

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks celebrates with his daughter during 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 Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After the parade but before the White House visit, the New York Knicks may be facing the first loss of next season: Jake Fischer and Marc Stein, reporting for Stein’s Steinline, write Friday that the Brooklyn Nets have “legitimate interest” in New York free agent center Mitchell Robinson.

The Stein Line has learned that the Nets have legitimate interest in trying to sign big man Mitchell Robinson away from the team across the East River that just won its first NBA championship in more than 50 years…

The Nets were overhyped as a potential Reaves suitor, but they appear intent on putting a credible team on the floor next season after unreservedly tanking this past season and winding up with the No. 6 pick in May’s draft lottery.

Trying to sign Robinson away from the Knicks, whose owner James Dolan has been openly fearful of the NBA luxury tax system’s second apron in the wake of his team’s title run, would certainly generate some back-page headlines in Gotham.

Fischer and Stein also reported that the Lakers could also have interest.

On Thursday night, Stefan Bondy reported that indeed owner James Dolan’s desire to avoid the second apron and heavy sanctions could mean the seven-footer could be available.

Dolan has been public about avoiding the dreaded second apron which in addition to financial sanctions would lessen GM Leon Rose’s flexibility.

Robinson averaged 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.5 rebounds in 27 minutes per game during the Knicks championship run. He is a notorious bad free throw shooter and has had injury issues. He’s missed 138 games in the last three season.

The Nets have ample cap space to sign Robinson outright, with a minimum of $36 million and as much as $50 million depending how they manipulate the cap. Robinson is likely to command a starting salary above the $30 million mark. At 28, Robinson is one of the top offensive rebounders in the game and can supply rim protection, an area where the Nets are in need of help. With the trade of Nic Claxton, the 5 position has been penciled in as Day’Ron Sharpe’s and while Sharpe is also a top rebounder, he doesn’t provide rim protection that Jordi Fernandez’s defense requires.

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Serena Williams sprinkles stardust at Wimbledon with top female players toiling

Her motivations for returning may be hard to gauge but there is no doubt the returning former champion will steal the early spotlight at SW19

At the southernmost point of the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s vast grounds, Serena Williams was starting another day of training as the clock ticked down to her first singles match after four years of retirement. Her training partner for the morning, Marta Kostyuk, soon joined her on court 10 in Aorangi Park, the quaint practice area reserved only for players.

Kostyuk is one of the more extroverted players on the tour and she is widely known for speaking her mind under all circumstances, but when Williams greeted Kostyuk and thanked her for the training session, for once the Ukrainian looked at a loss for words: “No, thank you for playing with me,” she responded.

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Nick Boyd finds NBA home after going undrafted

Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Nick Boyd (2) reacts during the second half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Heading into the 2026 NBA Draft, there was growing buzz that Wisconsin Badgers point guard Nick Boyd would be among the 60 players selected. However, on a night where every pick exchanged hands except for one, Boyd ended up not hearing his name called, which meant the Badgers would not have a draft pick in back-to-back years, a feat they last achieved in 1986 and 1987.

A supersenior this season, Boyd averaged 20.7 points, 4.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game, while shooting 48 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from three.

With how roster spots have been used nowadays with two-way contracts, the second round of the NBA Draft has become more volatile. We’ve seen agents steer players to specific destinations, while others, such as UNC’s Henri Veesar, fall due to the desire for a specific contract.

Boyd went through Wednesday night without signing a contract, but his agency announced on Thursday afternoon that the point guard would be signing with the Golden State Warriors as an undrafted free agent.

Ranked No. 53 on The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie’s Big Board, Boyd will get his first professional chance on an Exhibit 10 contract with the Warriors. Those deals are non-guaranteed and are mainly structured as a pathway for players to join the G-League team following the offseason.

Boyd will now have the chance to showcase his talents during summer league, where he’ll make his case to earn a two-way contract.

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Warriors sign long-term pact with Iren

Mark Davis and Joe Lacob, bonding over stacking cash
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 31: Las Vegas Aces owner Mark Davis (L) and Golden State Valkyries owner Joe Lacob talk before the game at Chase Center on May 31, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Companies that build data centers don’t just pollute the environment, waste water, drive up electric rates, and dodge taxes. Sometimes they also sponsor NBA jersey patches.

An “AI cloud firm” called Iren has agreed to replace Rakuten as the jersey patch sponsor for the Golden State Warriors in a deal that’s reportedly worth $50M per season. For context, that’s enough to pay for 7 1/4 Al Horfords, 10.8 Gui Santoses, or over 58 Pat Spencers!

IREN Ltd. is an Australian company that actually seems less evil than the usual data center operator. They’re still primarily used for artificial intelligence cloud services and Bitcoin mining, both obviously cool pursuits for both individuals and the entire United States economy to focus on. However, Iren claims that their centers use only renewable energy, purchased from “clean or renewable sources” like solar or wind. Of course, they provide a disclaimer that sometimes they use “renewable energy certificates” which are like carbon offsets. It’s basically a certificate that says, yes we used fossil fuels, but we’re going to pay someone who did create renewable energy because we feel bad about it.

It’s still better than a non-renewable energy data center company.

This deal isn’t just for the Warriors jersey patch. The deal extends to Iren branding on the warmup gear of the Valkyries and the jerseys of the G League Santa Cruz Warriors, along with signage throughout the Chase Center.

But according to the Warriors’ chief commercial officer, Mike Kitts, this deal isn’t about the money, silly! The Warriors made the deal in order to “push the boundaries of innovation on a global scale and create a lasting legacy across the Bay Area and beyond.” Which is exactly what every fan wanted the team to do this offseason: Push the boundaries of innovation — on a global scale. That’ll impress LeBron, right?

The Warriors will also partner with this Australian company to do educational programs promoting “STEAM” — that’s the normal STEM, plus arts, because children still need to be educated in the discipline that artificial intelligence is actively destroying. They’ll also donate 10,000 Warriors jerseys each year to underserved communities and refurbish basketball courts.

It’s a very lucrative arrangement for the Warriors, especially since they still have a partnership with former jersey sponsor Rakuten. Unfortunately, their previous lucrative deal with FTX is probably not coming back, no matter how much Steph Curry and Shaquille O’Neal might want it to.

He put on all that mime makeup for nothing!

How does this affect the casual fan? Not really at all, aside from one annoying jersey patch being replaced by another annoying jersey patch. However, the Warriors may need to brace themselves for a late-night barrage of Truth Social posts from the president because he mistakenly thinks the team has signed a sponsorship deal with Iran.

“Mouthy Steve Kerr of the FAILING Golden State Warriors, who was very unfair to Jonathan Kuminga, need to tell IRAN to OPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ and start running more big beautiful pick and rolls for Steph Curry. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

This big-money partnership with an Australian company does explain some other previously-inexplicable Warriors decisions. Namely, drafting Australian Alex Toohey with the No. 52 pick and signing Tasmanian Taran Armstrong to a two-way contract. Did they truly believe in these prospects from Down Under who never played a minute in the NBA or was this just a clever ruse to get on the good side of a company that was going to give them enough money to pay for 23 1/4 Will Richards?

Regardless, it’s time to say “G’Day” to Iren! Please don’t steal/pollute all our water!

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If Skip Bayless Says Turn Right, You Should Probably Turn Left

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 23: Cameron Boozer smiles during the 2026 NBA Draft - Round One on June 23, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

When Larry Bird entered the NBA, he had plenty of doubters. He didn’t pass the eye test: he was slow, couldn’t jump, and was ghostly white.

Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan figured it out quickly. Writing in Basketball Weekly, early in Bird’s rookie season, he explained what people didn’t get about Bird.

To be clear, Cameron Boozer is not Larry Bird, but like a lot of guys who are perceived as slow and not as athletic as they might be, he’s getting that particular tag.

Skip Bayless, not always the sharpest knife in the drawer, is beating that drum, tweeting this out on X: “Love his dad but don’t love-love Cameron Boozer in the NBA. Just not that explosively athletic. But he is a very good, extremely well-taught basketball player who will give you all he has every night and provide solid leadership.” 

First, good to know he loves Carlos, but maybe he forgot that the elder Boozer had a similar rap coming out of college and was actually a second-round pick, going to Cleveland with the 35th pick.

At the time, people questioned his athleticism, his lack of verticality, and worried that he was a ‘tweener, too small for center and not quick enough for power forward. They worried about his shot, too, and questioned his foot speed.

Any of this ringing a bell?

Well, things worked out okay for Carlos, and Cameron enters the league as a vastly more skilled young player than was his father.

Whatever you can say about Cameron, his fundamentals, his grasp of the game, and his sheer intelligence have been major factors in his success.

Red Auerbach, patriarch of the Boston Celtics, liked to simplify the game. About Boozer, he might have said, look, he can shoot, he can rebound, he can pass, he plays defense, and he doesn’t screw up very often. What’s not to like?

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Q&A With The Athletic on LaMelo Ball

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 5: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets and Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves talk after the game on April 5, 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

Good morning.

Yes, it was not all some dream or nightmare. LaMelo Ball will be suiting up for the Minnesota Timberwolves next season.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 12: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets walks off the court after his teams loss to the Orlando Magic at Kia Center on February 12, 2025 in Orlando, 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 Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

I was able to have a quick question and answer session with The Athletic‘s Mike Vorkunov, a national NBA and basketball business reporter for that outlet. He has covered the Charlotte Hornets, among the rest of the association, in his time with The Athletic.

Here was our conversation:

Leo Sun: Thanks for taking the time to chat with me. I would love to get your perspective on the blockbuster LaMelo Ball trade. My first question for you is that many Wolves fans, myself included, are concerned about LaMelo’s character off-court issues. Would you say there’s a general misconception about him, or is some of it warranted?

Mike Vorkunov: Ball has definitely had a number of off-court incidents. Those were public and documented. There’s no escaping it. The perception was that he matured last year, even as he continued to run into some problems. Hornets people claimed he also got better on the court and in regards to basketball too. He seemed to find a good relationship with head coach Charles Lee. We’ll see if that sticks in a new place and under a new coach and in a new role. Ball will have to be more refined and more consistent playing for a team trying to win at the level the Wolves are.

Sun: Interesting. Finch is certainly a no-nonsense coach who’s tough even on his star players, so that relationship will be fascinating to watch. Moving to on to basketball, how concerned would you be about the long-term health of LaMelo?

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 27: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets holds his ankle after an apparent injury during the second half of a basketball game against the Detroit Pistons at Spectrum Center on February 27, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Vorkunov: It’s definitely an important question. Last season, he played in 70-plus games for just the second time in his six year career. The Hornets metered his minutes at times and did their best to get him through the season. It’s hard to say if he can repeat that. Injuries can he hard to predict and we don’t have all the information when it comes to that. The Wolves are certainly counting on him being a reliable partner to Anthony Edwards, and unlike in the East, every game will matter not just for seeding but to get into the playoffs.

Sun: I agree that health is always an unpredictable variable. I would hope Wolves President of Basketball Operations, Tim Connelly, and his medical staff did their homework on LaMelo’s ankles. He is coming from the same organization that dealt with the whole “Mark Williams failed physical” saga after all. Well, if there’s something Wolves fans should know about LaMelo, what would it be?

Vorkunov: LaMelo is supremely talented. That gets lost sometimes. He had a hugely positive on-court impact for the Hornets last season with one of the biggest on and off court point differentials. He can change a lot of things for Minnesota if everything is right.

Sun: I think that’s sometimes forgotten between all the memes and wild antics or quotes. Talent does win in this league. There certainly isn’t a more tantalizing and talented backcourt duo than LaMelo and Anthony Edwards now. How do you think their pairing will go?

CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 5: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves speaks with LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets after the game on March 5, 2025 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Vorkunov: It’ll definitely be interesting. Edwards has never played with someone like Ball. Even Karl-Anthony Towns was not the same kind of high usage player. But he should help and I think the pairing could work. It’ll be a lot harder for teams to key in on Edwards now and they should be able to have a very good playmaker on the court when he sits. But there’s a chance this lifts the ceiling for the team in a way they couldn’t reach with Randle and Reid. It could also go very wrong. That’s the beauty of a fun trade like this.

Sun: The Wolves will either win the championship or not! It’s a 50-50 chance. This will definitely make next season something Minnesota fans will be following. Thank you for your time!

I appreciated the time that Mike took to answer some quick questions. If you want to check out more of his work, make sure to read this free article that both he and our very own Jon Krawczynski teamed up on yesterday.