Posts

Posted on

Braves News: Owen Murphy optioned, blowout in Pittsburgh, and more

Jul 6, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Owen Murphy (73) pitches the ball against the New York Mets during the tenth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images | Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Braves made a series of roster moves ahead of Tuesday’s contest in Pittsburgh. Most notably, right-hander Owen Murphy was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. In addition, the club selected the contract of lefty Connor Thomas, released righty Daysbel Hernández, recalled righty James Karinchak, and placed righty Tyler Kinley on the paternity list. 

22-year-old Murphy made his debut on Monday evening, where he was put in a difficult extra-inning situation against the New York Mets. He threw just one inning but allowed the game-winning runs. 

The remaining moves are refreshing Atlanta’s bullpen as the club continues the final road trip before the All-Star break. Thomas gives the Braves a fresh left-handed arm, while Karinchak returns after a brief stint in Triple-A to help cover innings with Kinley away on the paternity list.

More Braves News:

Hurston Waldrep struggled and the Braves suffered a 12-4 beatdown from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Ronald Acuña Jr. is reportedly nearing a rehab assignment. It could begin as soon as next week. 

MLB News:

The Minnesota Twins have placed outfielder Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list with a right hip strain. The move is retroactive to July 6. The injury will cause Buxton to miss the All-Star Game.

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin will miss eight to ten weeks due to a torn tendon in his left hand. 

From the Feed:

Rowdy Tellez has rejoined the Braves on a minor league deal. 

Posted on

Mets' A.J. Ewing records first career four-hit game as rookie becomes more comfortable at plate

A.J. Ewing is one of the bright spots for the Mets this season, and Tuesday night against the Royals showed exactly why.

The rookie outfielder went 4-for-4 -- his first four-hit game -- including a two-run shot and a career-high three RBI. It was an overall impressive game for Ewing, who has picked it up offensively recently. 

Over his last 22 games, since June 14, Ewing has a .311/.400/.568 slashline with five home runs, four doubles, 16 RBI, 12 runs and a .968 OPS. 

"I feel comfortable in the box right now. That’s pretty much it," Ewing said after Tuesday's game. "When I say comfortable in the box, I mean it. I’m relaxed." 

When asked specifically about his growing power numbers, five of his six home runs this year have come in the last month, Ewing reiterated his comfort at the plate, but emphasized that he's not intentionally going for the long ball.

"That's not really something I'm pushing for," he said. "It's more just line drive stuff, but the fact that I'm getting the ball in the air to the pull side, it's cool."

Tuesday was also the third time Ewing batted leadoff with the big league club. Although the series opener with the Royals was the first time he picked up a hit in that spot, the outfielder is accustomed to it. In 33 games batting leadoff with Syracuse before his call-up, Ewing slashed .342/.448/.525 with a .973 OPS.

Through 52 games, Ewing's OBP (.359) is ranked ninth among rookies and his 22 walks are 13th. Should be noted that only one rookie, the Giants' Bryce Eldridge, has more walks in fewer games, with the majority of the players ahead of Ewing having already played in at least 60 games.

Ewing was asked how his skillset fits with batting leadoff, and the 21-year-old gave a concise response.

"Naturally, I see a lot pitches," he said. "That's going to suit me well in that spot."

The Royals have right-hander Steven Cruz scheduled to start Wednesday's game as the opener. There's a good chance we'll see Ewing hitting leadoff and whether he can continue to use his particular skillset as the Mets' table-setter. 

Posted on

Jays Actually Score And Win

Jul 7, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Jonatan Clase (8) celebrates his home run during the second inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images | Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images

Jays 9 Giants 3

Before the game, I asked the Jays to score and not just one run. And they did….I should have asked earlier.

The Jays scored:

  • Three in the second: Brandon Valenzuela led off with a single. An out later, Sean Keys singled (108.5 mph). Then Jonatan Clase homered (362 feet, homer in 22 of the 30 MLB stadiums).
  • Five in the third: Vladimir Guerrero started it off with a single to the opposite field. Kazuma Okamoto followed his lead, singling to the opposite field. Valenzuela singled to center, scoring one. A Daulton Varsho ground out put runners on second and third. Keys singled again, scoring both. Clase singled putting runners on the corners. Andrés Giménez singled one home. And Ernie Clement hit a sac fly.
  • One in the ninth: Clement led off with a single. Lukes singled to give us runners on the corners. Then Vlad hit into a double play, which brought in the run, but it was a crappy swing.

We did go five inning there without getting a baserunner. But let’s focus on the nine runs instead.

We had 13 hits. Clement (leading off) had three hits. Valenzuela, Keys, and Clase had two each. Varsho was the lone member of the batter order not to get a hit. He did have a 102.7 mph lineout, .650 expected BA. But his other at bats were pretty sad.

And we were 4 for 10 with RISP, so a good day.

Spencer Miles got the start and wasn’t great. He gave up 7 hits in 4 innings, with just 1 strikeout. He was lucky to get through the four innings with just 2 earned.

Patrick Corbin gave up a run, going 2.1 innings. He started his 2.1 innings with a single and double allowed. Both of which I thought Nathan Lukes likely should have caught. The single, Nathan kind of ran parallel to, instead of going after. I guess he was playing it safe, but I though he should have made the catch. And the double was just over Lukes head, and again, I thought he could have made a better effort. So Corbin allowed one run in his 2.1.

Jeff Hoffman got the last two outs of the seventh, with a strikeout.

Mason Fluharty pitched a quick eighth. And Louis Varland pitched the ninth on 19 pitches. More than I would have liked him to throw, but he didn’t allow a baserunner.

And our pitchers didn’t give out a walk.

After the defense was so awful yesterday, it was pretty good today.

Jays of the Day: Clase (0.25 WPA) and Keys (0.09).

No one gets the other award, tho Vlad came close at -0.08.

We have a day game tomorrow. 3:45 Eastern start time. I was out in the sun all day today, so I might just about be up by that time. Dylan Cease (5-4, 2.79) vs. Logan Webb (5-6, 3.66).

Maybe we could score again tomorrow.

Posted on

Utah Jazz vs Oklahoma City Thunder recap: final SLC Summer League game

The Utah Jazz capped off a perfect 3-0 run through their home summer showcase with a dominant 103-69 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. It may not have been pretty, but the Jazz got the job done.

Unlike the first two games, none of Utah’s draft picks played. Darryn Peterson, Ace Bailey, and Cody Williams were all sidelined as the Jazz’s Summer League roster took on the OKC Thunder, who were also missing their draft picks: Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz.

The only players who got some action tonight with regular season appearances for the Jazz were Blake Hinson, Bez Mbeng, and Hayden Gray. This gave an opportunity for the other Summer League players to show what they can do, and several took advantage.

From the start, the Jazz controlled the game. The Jazz went on a 42-25 run stretching from the 4:25 mark of the first quarter into halftime. This surge put the game out of the reach from the Thunder early on, and they kept their foot on the gas, winning the second half 50-32, with a lead that swelled as much as 37 points.

The Jazz won both the 3-point shooting and paint points battles, outscoring the Thunder 46-28 in the paint. This dominant win was characterized by balanced scoring, with 7 Jazz players reaching double figures.

Max Abmas, a small crafty guard, started at point guard, dropping 15 points and 6 assists. He has a tight handle and solid passing. His size is limiting as he is listed at only 5-foot-11. However, he was a steady hand in Peterson’s absence with only two turnovers.

Jonas Aidoo also had a good game, starting at center and dropping 16 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. He is a decent rim protector and uses his size well.

This was Oklahoma City’s third straight loss in Salt Lake City, after an earlier blowout against Memphis and a 5-point loss to Atlanta. The OKC Thunder struggled to shoot from distance, only making 26.5% of their 3-point attempts.

Their rookie big man, Aday Mara (the No. 12 pick), and young guard Bennett Stirtz (the No. 16 pick), showed nice flashes but struggled to find consistency throughout summer play so far.

“If we guarded and played as a team, we knew we were going to win,” said Justin Harmon, who finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. “We love playing with each other, and when we play together, we can beat anybody.”

Hopefully Darryn Peterson, Ace Bailey, and Cody Williams got the rest needed to perform in their upcoming games.

Both teams will now head to the main NBA Summer League event at Las Vegas. The Jazz will take on the Washington Wizards on July 9th in the highly anticipated battle between the top two picks: AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson.

Posted on

The Future is Now? Sharks Send a Message With Offseason Additions

The San Jose Sharks were one of the busiest teams to start out the month of July. While their moves have been met with a considerable amount of criticism from fans and experts alike, the message that Mike Grier was trying to send is clear. The Sharks are ready to move out of the rebuilding phase, and they want to win.

The first major move by the Sharks in free agency was the most unexpected one. Most expected the team's priority on July 1 to be solving their blue line, not adding more middle-six forwards to an already noticeable logjam. A half hour into free agency, though, insider Elliotte Friedman broke the news that the Sharks' first piece of business was signing 31-year-old winger Mason Marchment, the son of long-time Sharks scout Bryan Marchment. 

Marchment does help address the Sharks' need for depth goal-scoring, as they only had three players on the roster surpass the 20-goal threshold last season, but it does put the team in a strange bind, which we'll discuss more in detail at a later date. 

The more notable additions came later in the day, addressing the Sharks' defensive group. First, the Sharks signed former New York Rangers captain and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba to a four-year deal worth $33 million with an average annual value of $8.25 million. While it is a steep price to pay for an aging defenseman, as we’ve seen in recent months, $8 million isn’t what it used to be around the NHL. Trouba’s deal is currently the 29th highest cap hit for a defenseman, but once a multitude of young, high-end defensemen start signing their second or third contracts, he’ll have a run-of-the-mill deal for a second-pairing defenseman by the time his new contract expires.

The Sharks were then done with big-name free agent signings, with no disrespect meant to Eric Comrie, who will likely compete for the Sharks’ backup goalie job when training camp comes around. As a result, Grier turned his attention to the trade market. After months of rumors and speculation linking the Sharks to either Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Reilly or Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, Grier opted to pull the trigger and acquire the latter. 

Nurse, despite public opinion, is a serviceable second-pairing defenseman who often is the brunt of considerable criticism due to his high cap hit. It is true that he carries the 11th highest average annual value amongst NHL defensemen, and it is certainly fair that he has not lived up to his $9.25 million cap hit since signing his current contract back in 2021. At that time, he seemed to be on the same trajectory as players like Cale Makar, Zach Werenski, and others, but of course, that never came to fruition. If Nurse had a $6 million, or even $7 million, cap hit, he likely wouldn’t be constantly scrutinized. With that being said, there’s a certain amount of expectations that come with a cap hit that nears eight figures.

The Sharks didn’t add superstars in free agency this summer, and they still drastically lack a true number one defenseman, or even a number two for that matter. Despite that, the Sharks now have a total of three, arguably four depending on your view of Michael Kesselring, legitimate top-four defensemen. Last season, it could’ve been argued they had just one, Dmitry Orlov. If you take salary out of the equation, it’s hard to back an argument that the Sharks’ current defensive corps of Nurse, Trouba, Orlov, and Kesselring isn’t a dramatic improvement over last year’s group that included John Klingberg, Nick Leddy, Shakir Mukhamadullin, and Mario Ferraro. 

While many have their opinions, both positive and negative, regarding the Sharks’ moves this summer, it’s hard to dispute that Mike Grier’s message to the NHL has been received loud and clear.

Posted on

Dbacks Offense Slides Right Back: Dbacks 1, Padres 4

Jul 7, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Jake Cronenworth (9) celebrates with designated hitter Gavin Sheets (30) after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images | David Frerker-Imagn Images

Whatever momentum seemed to have been gained by the offensive outburst last night was immediately lost 24 hours later. We are right back in the same spot we were in when we got here yesterday. Really a frustrating night for a team that was hoping to turn a corner after last night and get some momentum going.

The team turned as they have done all season to their former ace to be a leader and put this team on his back, but Zac Gallen faltered once again. He allowed 4 runs in the first inning and his team seemingly shut down behind him. Gallen was able to keep the Padres at 4 for the next 5 innings which was kind of nice, but the damage had already been done. Overall, the line for Gallen wasn’t terrible going 6 innings and allowing 4 runs, however allowing all 4 of them in the first inning seemingly really killed this team’s momentum. The Dbacks TV commentary was really trying to push the narrative that tonight was somehow an improvement for Gallen, however I am not really buying it.

As for the Dbacks offense what else can really be said at this point? Nobody hit. Pavin Smith should’ve been DFA’d 3 weeks ago but is still somehow inexplicably getting starts. And guess what? He went 0-3. Shocker!

Corbin Carroll appears to have a hole in his swing again at the top of the zone that pitchers have been exploiting the past couple of weeks and it doesn’t look good. It took him quite a while last season to make an adjustment on that pitch and the Dbacks really need him now.

Really not an approach that is going to allow you to score runs when you cant avoid the groundball with runners on base. After the Marte double in the first inning, After loading the bases with 0 outs in the first inning, a fielders choice, a walk to score the lone run, Nolan Arenado lined into an inning ending double play. Definitely a missed opportunity. This would be the first of 3 inning-ending double plays on the night for the Dbacks offense, 2 of which by Arenado. After the first, the Dbacks managed only 3 hits the rest of the game, all singles. Especially frustrating after getting the Padres starter Marquez to over 30 pitches in the first inning.

Like I said, there’s not much that can be said that hasn’t already. This offense got outslugged by the worst offense in the league tonight. Something needs to change.

The Dbacks will look to rebound in a big way tomorrow and get back to .500. They will turn to the youngster Jose Cabrera and the offense will have their hands full facing Michael King. These games over the coming weeks are too important to be handing them away like they seemingly did tonight. If the Dbacks are going to be buyers, we need to see something quick.

Posted on

The Lakers have officially signed Quentin Grimes, who will be vital offensively

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 6: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during Round Two Game Two on May 6, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

For those concerned about the Lakers running it back, fear not.

Last year, in the first three wins LA had over Houston in the opening round of the playoffs, they started LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard. If Rui Hachimura doesn’t return, that means the entire starting lineup is gone.

In its place, an injection of new talent has emerged, including the team’s latest signing, Quentin Grimes.

It’s clear that youth and athleticism were a top priority.

Everyone the Lakers have signed is under 30 years old and all are known more for their offense than their defense, except Walker Kessler. Grimes is no exception. At 26 years old, he qualifies as part of the youth movement and he can score with the best of them.

Last year, Grimes averaged 13.4 points per game and shot 33.4% from deep. That level of scoring would’ve made Grimes the fourth-highest scorer on the Lakers last year, and with James gone, a case can be made that he’s now the team’s third-best offensive player.

His 3-point shooting took a dive last year, but he’s shown an ability to be a laser. In three of his five seasons, he’s shot above38% from beyond the arc.

With Luka and Austin now feeding him the ball, he should get great looks. Thanks to the gravity of Luka and Austin, there should also be room for him to operate, drive inside and put pressure on the rim.

Grimes enters this backcourt asalso their best dunker. Last year, he had 35 dunks, which was almost three times the amount LA’s best guard dunker, Dalton Knecht had. Fans should expect Grimes to have a few finishes that get the entire NBA buzzing.

While dunks are fun and youth is ideal, all of this has to translate into elite production.

The Lakers lost two guards to free agency this summer in Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard, leaving big shoes to fill. Smart was arguably the best player for LA after the team’s big three and Kennard had the league’s best 3-point shooting percentage.

The Lakers are banking on Grimes stepping up in a bigger role to help replace what was lost. If not, then the Lakers’ ceiling for the 2026-27 season will dip considerably.

However, this is far from a gamble by the franchise. Grimes has a great rapport with Lakers head coach JJ Redick, working out with him way back before either was associated with the team.

Redick is aware of his game, and assuming he was part of the brain trust that made these decisions, if Redick feels adding Grimes will improve his roster, he’s earned the benefit of the doubt regarding his talent evaluation.

Still, Grimes is now in a position where he is needed to consistently produce offensively. This is a moment for him to step up in the bright LA spotlight and excel.

He has shown flashes of this. In 28 games with the Sixers during the 2024-25 season, he averaged 21.9 points per game and started in 25 of those contests.

If he can have performances like that in a Lakers uniform, then the front office can take a victory lap with this signing.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Posted on

Khris Middleton, ex-Nets star in middle of wild six-team NBA trade

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows D'Angelo Russell #5 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on November 16, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, Image 2 shows Khris Middleton #20 of the Dallas Mavericks plays against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center

A six-team swap was needed to pull off a sign-and-trade that landed Khris Middleton a three-year, $17.6 million contract with the Wizards. 

The maneuvering involved the Pistons, Grizzlies, Clippers, Bucks, Mavericks and Wizards, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported.

For Middleton, a member of the Mavericks before the trade, the Wizards sent former Nets star D’Angelo Russell, a 2029 second-round pick, a 2032 second-round swap and a 2033 second-rounder to the Grizzlies. 

The Mavericks also included a 2033 second-round pick to Washington. 

Khris Middleton of the Dallas Mavericks plays against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center. Getty Images

The deal also called for the Pistons to trade Caris LeVert and a pair of second-rounders to Milwaukee for Taurean Prince and Gary Harris, and, according to ESPN, the deal creates a trade exception and cap savings for the Pistons. 

Trades that were previously worked out are now also part of Tuesday’s deal, which includes the Pistons trading Marcus Sasser to the Mavs, Isaiah Stewart to the Grizzlies, and a protected 2028 second-rounder to the Clippers. 

The Clippers are sending John Collins to the Pistons and sending cash to the Bucks. 

The Grizzlies are trading Santi Aldama and the draft rights to Tarik Biberovic to the Mavericks and a pair of draft picks to the Pistons. 

The very convoluted deal ultimately helps bring Middleton back to Washington, where he played parts of the last two seasons. 

D’Angelo Russell of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on November 16, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NBAE via Getty Images

He originally ended up with the Wizards after he was traded at the 2025 deadline by the Bucks. 

The 34-year-old averaged 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game during the 2025-26 season.

Posted on

Warriors don’t match Grizzlies contract offer for Quinten Post

Quinten Post shooting a free throw.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 05: Quinten Post #21 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a free throw in the second half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 05, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Quinten Post’s tenure as a member of the Golden State Warriors has officially come to an end. On Tuesday, a few minutes before the deadline for the team to make a decision, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Golden State had chosen not to match the offer sheet that the Memphis Grizzlies had extended to the 26-year old Dutch big man. And with that, Post departs the Bay Area and joins a Grizzlies squad that is rebuilding after trading away Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane.

The Warriors had extended the qualifying offer to Post this offseason, which made him a restricted free agent. As a result, other teams could only offer Post a multi-year deal, and the Warriors had the right to match any offer sheet he signed.

Memphis gave Post a three-year, $30-million, but they did so in a cheeky manner to discourage the Warriors from matching. Only the first of the three years is guaranteed (at just $9 million), and some of the $30 million is tied to highly unlikely incentives. However, incentives in contracts count towards the apron, making it more difficult for the Dubs to match. With the team nearing their spending limit, still waiting on LeBron James, and already reuniting with Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis, it seemed very unlikely that they would match Memphis’ offer. And indeed, they didn’t.

Post, who was taken with the No. 52 pick in the 2024 draft, departs after appearing in 109 games for the Warriors (with 49 starts), plus 12 playoff games. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, it’s the first time since 2020 that a restricted free agent received an offer sheet of at least $5 million and it wasn’t matched by his original team.

Posted on

The Lakers have officially signed Sandro Mamukelashvili, who brings a new look to the team

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 18: Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on December 18, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

While fans likely had some familiarity with most of the Lakers’ signings, Sandro Mamukelashvili is likely someone who fell through those cracks.

More affectionately known as Mamu, the Georgian big man, who spent four seasons in Milwaukee and San Antonio to begin his career, had a breakout season with the Raptors where he received Sixth Man of the Year votes.

The Lakers, who officially announced Mamu’s signing on Tuesday night, are banking on this being the beginning of something bigger and not a flash in the pan.

While the Lakers sported a high-powered offense last season, one look they did not have was a two-big lineup. With LeBron James and Rui Hachimura often manning the forward position and with no viable stretch big men in the rotation, it wasn’t even an option for the team to go to.

With Mamu, that will change. The big man is a unique player, not the perimeter-based wing type like Rui or LeBron while also not being a traditional center. He’s a big who can step in at center to play a five-out style or alongside another big to give the Lakers a look and lineup they did not have.

The Raptors being an untraditional team meant that last season, he played a lion’s share of his minutes at the center position. Still, in 112 minutes alongside Jakob Poeltl last season, the Raptors had a +6.6 net rating.

Mamu’s skillset is one that also has a track record of succeeding alongside Luka Dončić, another key factor in any free agent signing. For years in Dallas, Luka and Maxi Kleber worked well off of one another and there’s plenty of reason to believe Mamu and Luka can have similar success.

Having a big man who can pick and pop will give the Lakers’ offense another dynamic it lacked last season. As a spot-up shooter, Mamu finished at 1.17 points per possession last season for the Raptors, according to the NBA’s tracking data. For reference, that falls right between Austin Reaves (1.24) and Luka (1.13). Similarly, on catch-and-shoot threes, Mamu shot 38.9% on 283 attempts last season, a mark that lands just above Luka’s 38.7%.

No big on the Lakers’ roster could even offer the possibility of being a reliable threat from range last season for the Lakers, which can open up things offensively. On top of bringing back Austin this summer to pair again with Luka, the Lakers added two more guards who can get to the rim in Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes.

Having a big in Mamu who can space the floor and potentially pull centers away from the rim will have cascading positive effects on the team’s offense.

All of this relies on the Lakers being right in their hope that Mamu can build on what he did in Toronto last season. There are underlying numbers, though, that suggest it’s sustainable.

Mamu’s 3-point percentage of 38.9% was the second-best mark of his career, but only just ahead of his career percentage of 36.6%. Similarly, he also shot 37.3% in 2024-25.

The same can be said about his overall field goal percentage, too, where he’s a 49.4% shooter overall but saw his 2025-26 percentage (52.3%) increase from his 2024-25 percentage (50.2%) with both being above that average.

The Raptors were also just a better team with Mamu on the floor. Toronto had a +5.3 net rating with him on and a +0.8 net rating when he sat.

While Mamu had a career-best season in 2025-26, it did not come out of nowhere. Instead, it was a steady build over multiple seasons that saw him take advantage of the most minutes he’s played in his career.

The Lakers are hoping that a big contract and a big role mean even bigger production from him in Los Angeles.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Posted on

Mets feel squeeze of short pitching staff in loss to Royals: 'It was a tough day for us'

Tuesday's game between the Mets and Royals will be one to forget if you're in New York's bullpen. 

Before the Mets' rollercoaster 16-12 loss, they had never lost a home game when scoring 11 or more runs. Their 12 runs scored is also tied for the franchise record for the most runs scored in a loss, period.

And those marks fell on the Mets bullpen.

After two straight games in Atlanta that required a lot of pitchers, interim manager Andy Green was short on the pitching side Tuesday. It didn't help that he had to deploy a bullpen game in their series-opener with Kansas City. Despite that, the Mets pushed on.

Cionel Perez was the opener with Kodai Senga allowing four runs in his three innings of work. The Mets' offense blitzed the Royals' pitching staff and overcame Senga's performance, grabbing a 9-4 lead heading into the fifth inning. That's when Austin Warren took the mound and allowed five earned runs on four hits and one walk without recording an out.

"It was a tough day for us. No other way around it," Green said of the pitching staff after the loss. "Perez got us off to a good start. [AJ] Minter had a really good inning in there. [Huascar Brazoban] came in and did some decent stuff. Everything else just was a tough day. Austin Warren’s been somebody we’ve relied on all year long; he’s been very very good for us. It wasn’t his day today."

Green explained that they hoped Warren would pitch a few innings, but since he didn't they had to use recently-acquired RHP Matt Seelinger in the seventh with the score tied at 9-9. Seelinger, a 31-year career minor leaguer, was making his major league debut and allowed seven runs in the frame, essentially putting the game out of reach. 

"As a group, have a ton of confidence in Austin Warren. He had a night that was really tough. We looked at it pretty confidently, he would give us a couple of innings tonight. It didn’t turn into that," Green said. "It was at that point we knew we had to put Seellinger in a tough debut spot you prefer not to. We believe in Austin, we’ll continue to believe in him. He’s been great for us all year. That’s where we tripped up a little bit. And that happens."

"We were light today, I knew I needed to cover some innings," Warren said of his performance. "Doesn’t change the way I go about my business. Just didn’t work out. Bad outing." 

Warren has been great for the Mets this season, but his last two outings have been subpar. On July 4 against the Braves, he allowed four runs in two innings of work. And after giving up five on Tuesday, Warren has now allowed nine runs in the last two times on the mound (2.0+IP), which equals what he allowed the entire season leading up to that (33.0 IP). Warren chalks it up to missing his spots, but doesn't want to make excuses, just find a way to get the job done.

With the Mets playing five days in a row before the All-Star break, New York needs Warren and the rest of the pitching staff to pick up the slack or more games like Tuesday will happen.

Posted on

White Sox Minor League Update: July 6-7, 2026

The road back is underway. Munetaka Murakami made his return to the field Tuesday, starting a rehab assignment with the Charlotte Knights. | Charlotte Knights/ Instagram

Charlotte Knights 8, Nashville Sounds 2
Munetaka Murakami kicked off his Charlotte (47-41) rehab with a single in his first trip, putting two on with nobody out. That set up a first-inning run, courtesy of a Ryan Galanie fly out and a Caden Connor sac fly. Mune stuck around for five innings at first, finishing 1-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts. Galanie blew the game open in the second with a grand slam, Knights up 5-1. Nolan Jones chipped in with a two-run double in the sixth, and Andy Weber kept the line moving with an RBI knock in the seventh. The pitching held up, too. Tanner McDougal, fresh off the IL, tossed one inning with a walk and two punchouts.

Who was the Knights MVP?
 
pollcode.com free polls
Who was the Knights Cold Cat?
 
pollcode.com free polls

Columbus Clingstones 4, Birmingham Barons 3
The Barons (31-51) looked ready to steal one late, but the Clingstones had the final word. Alec Briley launched a first-inning solo homer to put Birmingham ahead, but starter Lucas Gordon surrendered a game-tying blast on just his fourth pitch and another solo shot in the fifth that gave Columbus the lead. Dylan Campbell answered with a solo homer in the sixth to knot things up, and the Barons appeared to have the winning run when Samuel Zavala drew a leadoff walk in the ninth and raced home on T.J. McCants’ clutch RBI double. But the lead disappeared just as quickly, as Jonathan Clark allowed the tying run before the Clingstones walked it off with a game-winning single in the bottom of the frame.

Who was the Barons MVP? ws
 
pollcode.com free polls
Who was the Barons Cold Cat?
 
pollcode.com free polls

Asheville Tourists 11, Winston-Salem Dash 3
The Dash (47-35) got on the board first thanks to George Wolkow’s two-out RBI double in the opening frame, plating Ryan Burrowes, who had singled. But then came rehabbing Shane Smith, who promptly served up three runs in the second. His line: 2 2/3 innings, three runs, three hits, two walks, but hey, six strikeouts, so not a total wash. The bats had a few more tallies in them, one on a Burrowes solo blast in the fifth and a Wolkow bomb in the eighth, but the bullpen? Woof. Seven earned over 5 1/3 innings. That’s a mess.

Who was the Dash MVP?
 
pollcode.com free polls
Who was the Dash Cold Cat?
 
pollcode.com free polls

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 6, Delmarva Shorebirds 2
Kannapolis (41-41) got things rolling in the second, slapping three runs on the board thanks to Jurdrick Profar and Efren Teran coming through with RBI singles. The Shorebirds made it interesting, tagging Ballers starter Truman Pauley for two tallies in the third, but the Ballers answered in the fifth with Stiven Flores plating Nick McLain, who had doubled. At 4-2, Kanny wasn’t done, squeezing two more in the eighth on a wild pitch and a McLain sac fly. The bullpen shut the door, holding the Birds scoreless for the last five-plus.

Who was the Ballers MVP?
 
pollcode.com free polls
Who was the Ballers Cold Cat?
 
pollcode.com free polls

ACL White Sox 9, ACL Mariners 8 (7 innings)
The ACL White Sox (14-34) jumped out early, thanks to Osniel Castillo launching a two-run bomb in the third. Then, Jose Mendoza and Landon Hodge smacked back-to-back doubles in the fourth for another run. In the fifth, the wheels fell off as Sox pitching surrendered five runs, handing the Mariners a 5-3 lead. Yordani Soto tried to spark a rally with a solo shot in the bottom half, but the Mariners punched right back with three more in the sixth. The Sox, undeterred, broke through with a five-run haymaker in their half of the sixth with doubles from D’Angelo Tejada and Hodge, and RBI knocks from Alejandro Cruz and Soto, the works. That 9-8 edge held, with Felix Doroteo sweating through a single and a walk in the seventh but getting it done for the win.

DSL Blue Jays 5, DSL White Sox 3 (7 innings)
The DSL White Sox (10-17) had chances all afternoon but couldn’t deliver the clutch hit, stranding plenty of traffic and going just 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Felix Lebron did his part, driving in two runs with an RBI double in the second and an RBI single in the fourth after Orlando Patiño’s one-out triple. The Dodgers built a 5-2 cushion before the Sox pushed across an unearned run in the seventh, but the late rally fizzled, leaving too many missed opportunities.

ACL Dodgers 4, ACL White Sox 1 (July 6 — 7 innings)
The ACL Sox mustered just two singles and five baserunners through the entire contest. The Dodgers practically begged for trouble with three errors, but the Sox bats couldn’t take advantage of a single one. Dodger arms mowed down the first 13 Sox hitters before D’Angelo Tejada finally reached on a throwing error in the fifth. Marcelo Ácala and Jefrank Silva managed the only hits. On the mound, Fidel Montero was nails, tossing five shutout innings, allowing five hits, a walk, and three strikeouts.

DSL White Sox 7, DSL Twins 3 (July 6 — 7 innings)
The DSL White Sox got all their business done early, hanging a seven-spot by the end of the fourth. They got on the board in the first on a little chaos with a leadoff single, stolen base, wild pitch, and dropped third strike. The second inning was more of the same with two walks, a couple of singles, Sox up 3-0. The Twins tried to make it interesting with two unearned runs in the third, but the Sox just shrugged and piled on three more in the bottom half. Ronald Cordoza ripped a two-run triple, and Orlando Patiño lofted a sac fly. Hector Hernandez added the exclamation point with a solo shot in the fourth. Yordany Marte got the start, three innings, just the two unearned, with one walk and three punchouts. Job done.

Posted on

Payton Tolle propels the Red Sox out of last place with an excellent outing in Chicago

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 7: Payton Tolle #70 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the second inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on July 7, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Well, well, well, what do we have here? Is that a competent baseball team I see?

9-2 in their last eleven games. A young flamethrower bouncing back from a bad outing with six shut out innings. Solid defense, every single person in the lineup reaching base at least once, and a big win on the road against a White Sox team who entered the evening 24-6 in their last 30 home games. Who the hell is this team and where have they been all year?

In what very much felt like a make or break road trip regarding trade deadline decisions for the 2026 season, the Red So have started it 4-0 and continue to climb back into the Wild Card hunt. Not only that, but tonight they did it largely behind Payton Tolle shutting down a spunky White Sox lineup, which in the grand scheme of things is the gift that keeps on giving.

Retiring 15 of the last 16 hitters he faced, Tolle cruised once he was handed a 3-0 lead in the second inning. In doing so, he displayed a pair of characteristic you want to see if you’re looking for a future ace. One, he bounced back from a terrible outing against the Nationals (great pitchers rarely have two stinkers in a row), and two, he seemed to get stronger the deeper he worked within this game. The second item is something that’s not only encouraging to see in general, but especially awesome from Tolle who has shown signs of running out of gas in some of his outings this year. Tonight, the tank looked full even as he reached his finish line.

In a series opener that felt like it was just asking to be about a former Red Sox farmhand they traded away, it instead was about the dominant performance of a guy they kept.

Here’s all six of his strikeouts:

View Link

Three Studs

Payton Tolle: Duh! Six shutout innings in a bounce back beauty for the big man!

Andruw Monasterio: A pair of hits and a walk, but most importantly, he also got the scoring started with a solo home run in the second.

View Link

Ceddanne Rafaela: Like Monasterio, Rafaela had a pair of hits, and also like Monasterio, he hit a home run in the second inning. This time, it was a two-run shot that gave Boston a 3-0 lead.

View Link

Three Duds

Danny Coulombe: There was one brief moment where it felt like the Red Sox might blow this game, and it came in the bottom of the seventh shortly after the bullpen door swung open for Coulombe. He walked the first batter he faced (always a good sign), and allowed the tying run to come to the plate with nobody out. While he did get Kyle Teel for the first out of the inning, Justin Slaten had to clean up his mess.

Failing to land a knockout punch earlier: If we’re going to nitpick, and we have to in the duds section on a night like this, the Red Sox had baserunners in every single one of the first six innings. They also left the bases loaded in the opening frame. If they were able to cash in just a couple more runs while Tolle was dealing, they would have been able to stay away from Slaten and Whitlock in what turned into an 8-1 blowout, leaving them in an even better position going into the final tow games of the series.

The umpiring crew: Home plate umpire Charlie Ramos lost his first five ABS challenges, many on strikes where the ball was almost completely in the zone, and he didn’t even have the most memorable performance from an umpire this evening. Instead, that award goes to:

Play of the game:

Third base umpire Nestor Ceja, who made this amusing pair of calls on Contreras’ ninth inning double down the left field line.

At least it was entertaining and fun, which certainly were the themes of the night for Red Sox fans. Jake Bennett goes tomorrow to try and keep the party bus rolling.

Posted on

Seymour, bottom of the lineup lead the way: Rays 6, Yankees 4

Jul 7, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. (25) reacts after defeating the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

Coming off three consecutive losses, the Tampa Bay Rays were needing to bounce back against the Yankees on Tuesday night and they did just that behind a stellar performance by Ian Seymour and production from the bottom of the lineup.

Having dropped game one of the four game set on Monday night, the Rays sent southpaw Ian Seymour to the bump looking to even the series. He answered the bell and struck out a career-high 12 batters while allowing three runs over 5.1 innings of work. The three runs came on one swing of the bat. In total he faced 21 batters and struck out more than half. He scattered five hits and walked only one. He earned his 6th win of the season to move to 6-1.

View Link

The Rays staked Seymour to an early lead scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning. He quickly surrendered that lead the following half inning when he allowed a two-out, three run homer to Ben Rice who went 3-4 on the day.

Before and after that one swing, he was solid. Five of the first six outs were via the strikeout. He then punched out a pair in the fourth and the side in the fifth. He was sharp and the Rays offense returned the favor and countered the Yankees three run third with a four run fourth.

With one out, Walls singled to right. Palacios followed with a RBI double to the gap in right-center to tie the game. Then, Feduccia got into one and sent his second homer of the year over the wall in right-center to give the Rays a 5-3 lead. Yandy followed with a homer of his own and with the back to back blasts, the Rays had opened a 6-3 lead.

View Link

The six runs were all the Rays would need. After Seymour departed, Kelly, Booser, Cleavinger, and Baker combined to record the final 11 outs. Kelly allowed the only other run of the game in the 6th inning to cut the lead to 6-4. The pen struck out five more Yankee batters and helped the Yankees make history in doing so. With 17 Ks on back-to back nights, they became the first team in history to accomplish such a feat.

While striking out 34 batters over the first 18 innings, the Rays staff has walked only 2.

On a night where the Aranda and Caminero were quiet, combining to go 0-7 with a walk, the bottom of the lineup did its job. Mesa Jr., Walls, Palacios, and Feduccia combined to go6-12 with four RBIs and a pair of homers (Feduccia and Mesa Jr.).

View Link

The Rays will look to guarantee a split with a win tomorrow and will send Shane McClanahan to the bump opposite Gerrit Cole. With the win, the Rays moved back to four games up in the standings with a five-game cushion in the loss column.

Posted on

LeBron James next team predictions: Latest news, rumors on star's decision

There's been much to speculate about the next destination for LeBron James.

James decided to not allow the Los Angeles Lakers a bidding chance for him and informed the team that he would be moving on to a new organization in free agency.

There have been a handful of teams that are considered in the running for James.

James' agent, Rich Paul, previewed a shortlist of teams on a whiteboard during an episode of his podcast with Max Kellerman, "Game Over." The list of teams included the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors.

Many of which have their own storyline and reasoning for a potential James signing, but for a team like the Warriors, they could finally pair James with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

According to ESPN's Anthony Slater, the Warriors are keeping a roster spot open for James but they don't think he'd choose to play in the Bay Area.

"On the James front, Warriors sources continue to express a low level of optimism that James will ultimately pick them as his next team," Slater wrote. "They intend to keep roster space open for James until he ultimately declares his choice."

ESPN's Shams Charania said on "Straight Shooter" with Stephen A. Smith that he doesn't think the Warriors are at the top of James' list, rather "on the periphery," unless they were able to make a package deal for Anthony Davis. It should also be noted that Charania and Smith reported that both James and Green will "hang out this week" amid the 22-time All-Star's decision-making process.

So what about the other teams that could possibly lure James into a contract for a season or two? Charania said it's really boiled down to a top three hierarchy of: Heat, 76ers and Cavaliers.

Here's the latest on the "contenders only" free agency sweepstakes for James:

LeBron James potential landing spots

Here's the latest on the top-three contenders that James could sign with.

Miami Heat

A reunion in Miami would be one heck of a storyline. Once upon a time James promised Heat fans championship rings by famously uttering the words "not two, not three, not four, not five ... not six." He got them two with Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and company, now he could join a new 'big three' with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo and himself.

"There’s a draw with Miami. Pat Riley is a draw, Spoelstra is a draw," Charania said. "I have gotten any feel that there’s still tension between LeBron and Pat Riley that would detour him from that. I think Bam and Giannis are big draws for him too. He played team USA for Bam and has a lot of respect for Bam. Giannis would want LeBron in Miami from my understanding as well. No state taxes…. In January, you think about Miami and, it’s Miami! If you have a team that is basically neck and neck but one of them is based in Miami, with no state taxes.”

Smith reported that "a lot of executives" believe Miami is the best destination for James.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers have picked up steam in the running for James, Charania said.

"Philadelphia was not in the picture," he said. "When the Sixers got Jaylen Brown I did some research ... he (LeBron) is taking their pitch very seriously."

They would be able to create a lineup featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, James and Brown.

Cleveland Cavaliers

What could be better than a Hollywood ending? A return home to where it all began. Many want it to be the perfect storybook ending to a legendary career. The Cavs do.

Charania said that the organization is making James their No.1-priority and their superstar Donovan Mitchell is on board with that.

Some are speculating that it could very well be. Signs are there. That's what ESPN's Brian Windhorst said.

"Yes, absolutely, he knows what he's going to do," Windhorst said. "If you ask me, 'Are the vibes pointing towards Cleveland?' Yeah, the vibes are pointing towards Cleveland, but it's just vibes."

Consider this, he's celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the 2016 championship with Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, Matthew Dellavedova, Tristan Thompson and Channing Frye.

He's spending some offseason time there, which has fans on social media putting it all together after reuniting with his high school teammates from St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School in Akron. He was also with Cavs general manager Brandon Weems, but it could all just be coincidence.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: LeBron James next team predictions: Latest news, rumors on star's decision