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How the Bright Side staff ranked the 2026-27 Suns

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 25: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball as Oso Ighodaro #11 screens Ajay Mitchell #25 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 25, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, a day that changed the course of history and reshaped society as we know it. For those who know 9/11 only as a chapter in a history book, understand that it was a line of demarcation. There was life before September 11, and life after it. 

Anyone who lived through that day remembers where they were, what they were doing, and the feeling that something had permanently changed. I was a freshman at Scottsdale Community College at the time and remember sitting at a bench on campus, attempting to comprehend what happened and what it meant moving forward. It’s hard to believe a quarter of a century has passed since those tragic and horrific events, and the repercussions are still felt today, whether we always recognize them or not.

September 11 carries another anniversary for me, a much more personal one. It was the day I graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in 2003. After struggling through two years of community college, I joined the United States Army because guys my age were doing something meaningful, serving and defending the country, while I felt like some jackass without direction, purpose, or structure.

The Army gave me structure. There was an order to things. A cadence to every day. Wake up. PT. DFAC. Training. MREs. More training. DFAC. Shine your boots. Go to bed. Then wake up and do it again. I didn’t fully appreciate the structure being drilled into me during those hot, humid days in Missouri, or Misery, as I still like to call it. But that structure became a cornerstone of my life.

That cadence is still with me today. And, strange as it sounds, you can see some of it in the way we approach SunsRank. Like life in the military, an NBA season has rhythm. Structure. An order of operations. Here at Bright Side, SunsRank is part of that cadence. 

Before the season starts, we rank the entire roster from top to bottom based on who we believe the best players are at that exact moment. It becomes a snapshot of our collective thinking before anything real happens. Then come the player previews. Then Media Day. Training camp. Preseason. And finally, the season itself. That’s the structure. That’s the order of things.

Before we reveal the final preseason SunsRank tomorrow, I wanted to first show how the writing staff views this roster. These are the voices who will help narrate the 2026–27 Phoenix Suns, and these rankings represent their baseline for how they see each player and where they fit within the hierarchy of the roster.

Here are our rankings.

VoitaBrandonHoldenBruceLukeMarkTomKevinJustin
Devin Booker111111111
Dillon Brooks322222323
Jalen Green234336232
Miles Bridges443443444
Collin Gillespie665554555
Jordan Goodwin776775678
Mark Williams5576610986
Luke Kennard88889910910
Oso Ighodaro1010109107769
Khaman Malauch99910888107
Rasheer Fleming111211111111121111
Koa Peat121112151314131213
Ryan Dunn141415121413111312
Haywood Highsmith161614141212141415
Jamaree Bouyea131513131516151614
Pat Spencer151316161615161516
CJ Huntley171717171817181818
Koby Brea181818181718171717

You’ll notice that some writers are higher on certain players, while others are clearly lower. That’s a good reminder that SunsRank is built around a subjective question. Who is better than whom? There isn’t always a clean answer.

So after looking through the rankings, I identified a few of the larger deviations from the group and asked each writer to explain why they had certain players higher or lower than everyone else.

Mark, you had Jalen Green ranked 6th on the roster, which feels a little lower than where most people might expect him to land. What kept him from cracking your top five?

Mark Bowser: I viewed the rank as a question of value, which, to me, needs to consider production per dollar of contract amount. Right now, Gillespie and even Goodwin have shown more value per dollar and greater availability. This could obviously change as the season progresses. If Jalen shows he can facilitate, pound the rock and turnover less, continue to produce rim pressure and threes — and do it for 75+ games — then he might rise to #2 on my list.

Brandon, you were the highest on Koa Peat, putting him 11th in your rankings. What is it about Peat, whether it’s his upside, versatility, or potential role, that made you more bullish on him than the rest of the staff?

I believe Peat’s body is NBA-ready, and he brings a lot of what the Suns don’t have at the forward position. He is a bruiser. He is physical. He plays with toughness, and plays with an edge. He can handle the ball, make plays for others, and finish at or around the rim. I view his transition to the NBA as a seamless one, and believe many will look back and wonder how he fell as far as he did. He may not get minutes right away, but by the end of the year, it’s easy to envision him being an impact player, at whatever role he is assigned.

Holden, you were the lowest on Ryan Dunn, placing him 15th. After everything we saw from him last season, what caused him to slide that far down your SunsRank ballot?

Holden Sherman: Once Rasheer Fleming started to get more playing time, Dunn became unplayable. His inability to space the floor and his lack of progression on the offensive end renders him unplayable when Phoenix is playing a center or forward that can’t space the floor.

Tom, you came in on the lower end with Mark Williams, ranking him 9th. Is that more about concerns with Williams himself, or are there simply other players on this roster you value more heading into the season?

Tom Mildenberger: Any discussion about Mark Williams has to start and end with availability. 60 games were a jump, but he wasn’t available when we needed him the most in the postseason. Beyond that, I’m not super high on his impact.

He’s a legit 7-foot starting center, but despite his Go-Go-Gadget arms, he’s not a great rim protector, nor is he a plus rebounder for his position. Those are two things the Suns are going to need more from at the center. It’s really easy to compare him to Deandre Ayton as they are physically very similar players, but Mark Williams production has never surpassed the Ayton line. A lot of that may be due to inconsistencies with health, and I’m not completely out on Mark Williams potential, but until I see a rise in blocks and ten rebounds a game, the Western Conference playoff teams feature a lot of good centers.

Right now, I see Mark Williams as an average center when he’s on the court.

Kevin, you have Oso Ighodaro at 6th, easily the highest ranking among the staff. What do you see in his game and his potential role that made you willing to put him that high?

Kevin Humphreys: Last season, Oso Ighodaro played in all 82 games and earned the trust of Jordan Ott to close out games for the Suns. His switching ability on defense and his connectivity on offense are unique to the roster. With score-first players like Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and Miles Bridges all playing significant minutes, the Suns will need connectors on the floor, which is where Ighodaro will slide in and be a valuable asset to the team. If Maluach’s ability to stretch the floor is legit and they can play together in the second unit… look out. Despite having Mark Williams and Maluach on the roster, I expect to see Ighodaro closing games again this season because of his high basketball IQ.

Bruce, you’re the high man on Jamaree Bouyea, ranking him 13th. What has he shown you that makes you think he deserves a little more respect in the SunsRank hierarchy?

Bruce Veliz: Bouyea gets the 13th ranking as he has proved last year that if he gets an opportunity, he can make the most of it. The big question revolving around that this season, though, is whether he will still get those opportunities with a deeper roster this year.

Bouyea is someone to me who could make a rotation if all the stars align for him, and that could become a possibility here in Phoenix.

Who do you align with most? Which writer shares a similar methodology, ranking philosophy, and overall SunsRank with you? Maybe that’s the writer you’ll find yourself agreeing with throughout the season because your perceptions of the team are similar. Or maybe you’ll identify a writer or two who are consistently higher or lower on certain players than you are.

That’s part of the point. Our goal has always been to provide a complete, holistic picture of the Phoenix Suns, not clickbait designed purely to shock and awe. Because if history has taught us anything, shock and awe campaigns tend to be heavy on noise and light on substance.

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This Week in Mets Quotes: Jonah Tong feels good, Myers is happy to be back

Sep 7, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Jonah Tong (21) rubs a baseball during the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Your 2026 New York Mets: Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose.

“I was looking for a good pitch in the zone and he threw it there. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose and today was my turn [to help us win].” -Francisco Lindor [MLB]

It’s been a tough year for a number of players, but I’m glad Tobias Myers worked hard and made it back to the big leagues.

“[Tobias Myers] just lost a little bit of the stuff.” -Andy Green [MLB]

“Time’s kind of flown, honestly. I haven’t really noticed how long I’ve been down here [in AAA].” -Tobias Myers [MLB]

“Not an easy inning any time [Rafael] Devers is the middle of your inning. Had to go through the heart of their order and did a really nice job.” -Andy Green [MLB]

This does feel like it’s been a running theme for the Mets…

“It’s unfortunately not that uncommon where some guys get a little bit lost, and that’s such a hard level to fix things. You just feel that pressure to go out there and perform all the time. Sometimes, they come down here and it just allows them to take a breath. I think [Myers] was able to do that.” -Syracuse Mets pitching Coach A.J. Sager [MLB]

…everyone just needs to take Chet Steadman’s advice and ‘deal from the have to’…

“The last couple of weeks, it’s definitely gotten back to just being free. No thinking up there. Just pitch, and gradually I’ve gotten better and better.” -Tobias Myers [MLB]

…‘the have to is what you use when you’re afraid’.

“Last year, I felt like a kid going out there every time, just being shell-shocked by a lot of things. Now, it’s more like [my] feet are more set … and just going out there just trying to do my job.” -Jonah Tong [MLB]

At least it’s just Tong being nitpicky about himself…

“[I felt] good. Just one walk and a couple of pitches here and there, but it’s just me being nitpicky. Happy with it, [the] team won.” -Jonah Tong [MLB]

…oh and his catcher…

“The home run pitch was a good pitch. It was a pitch on the black, away. [Pauley] just had a good swing on it and that happens. [Tong] executed, the walk was the only thing.” -Francisco Alvarez [MLB]

…but Tong’s manager has his back and Green’s right that it was a good outing with some bad luck.

“[I’m] really pleased with [Tong’s] outing. The second inning is one of those things that just the only hits he gives up all day are sequenced together right there, and then the home run bites pretty hard at that point in time.” -Andy Green [MLB]

“To watch [Tong] be a cutthroat competitor, get in there and just go right back at them for the next three innings, it was really good. … I know he’s not going to love the line at the end of the day, with the four runs coming in, but the way he pitched today was way better than that line is going to indicate.” -Andy Green [MLB]

I think Andy Green might be really into boxing.

“We’ve put pressure on the other team. Not waiting for them to throw the first punch. We have gone out there and thrown it and we threw a lot of them today.” -Andy Green [MLB]

Lindor’s positive energy continues unabated.

“Everyone is like, ‘If I don’t do it, the next one will.‘ And that is contagious.” -Francisco Lindor [MLB]

In case you missed it, Will Sammon had an insightful interview with Eric Jagers.

“Was [Tong’s] major-league experience last year a good thing in hindsight? A bad thing? How do you view it, essentially one year removed from it?” -Will Sammon

“It’s hard to put a label on it. One, it was a really cool opportunity that he earned at the time. So in that part, it’s cool. It’s good. He had some fun moments, right? The debut was pretty good. He punched back against San Diego, and that was pretty good. And then he had some more unfortunate outings and appearances and things like that that certainly left a little bit of a sour taste in his mouth, I’m sure.” -Mets vice president for pitching Eric Jagers [The Athletic]

Mets Tweet of the Week

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Flyers' young — but mature — talent on display at rookie camp

Flyers' young — but mature — talent on display at rookie camp originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Flyers don’t have an inexperienced group at 2026 rookie training camp.

Porter Martone, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, Jett Luchanko and Oliver Bonk are all on the roster. Those five players saw action in the NHL playoffs last season, a good development for the club’s future.

And while the group is young, it isn’t naive. The Flyers’ prospects seem to know it’s a new season. They have two rookie games against the Rangers and a few more practices before it all begins with the big boys.

“Going into camp again with a chip-on-your-shoulder mentality,” Barkey said after Friday’s practice at PPL Center, home of AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley. “That’s always something that has separated me, just bringing that compete, that motor. Coming into camp again with something to prove, not being satisfied with what I did last year.”

The 21-year-old made his way to the Flyers in December and never went back to the Phantoms. As an undersized forward, his smarts and competitiveness won him a call-up. He played over half of the season with the Flyers and appeared in all 10 playoff games.

“Obviously it was really cool, it was great experience, I learned a lot and was able to grow a lot this summer coming back in now,” Barkey said. “But I’ve still got something to prove, got to earn your spot. I just want to continue to grow as a player and do whatever it takes to help the team win.”

Martone is undeniably the rookie camp headliner after fueling the Flyers’ playoff push at 19 years old. The winger is a slam dunk for a huge role this season, but he doesn’t act like it. The Flyers really like his humility and maturity.

“He asks a lot of questions, he’s always looking to better himself wherever it is on the ice,” Lehigh Valley head coach John Snowden said. “Even in practice today, ‘Can we do this? Can we look at something differently on this? What can I do different?’ He asks those questions, he wants to be a hockey player.”

Martone was a college freshman at Michigan State just five and a half months ago.

“In fairness, he played at the end of the season last year, he got a very, very small taste of the NHL level,” Snowden, who runs rookie camp, said. “He should ask those questions and he should find every single resource and avenue to make himself a better player. He’s a very good player, he showed what he can be in the NHL, but he wants to be a superstar player. And those are the type of things that you’re going to have to ask.”

The 2025 sixth overall pick has been a busy and well-traveled teenager. His whirlwind year continued after the playoffs when he represented Team Canada at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. He was also at development camp this summer. But he found some downtime.

“After the world championships there, I went home for probably about a month,” Martone said. “It was nice to kind of lay low, spend it with my family, see my siblings, my friends and kind of just be a kid again. I went back to Michigan State for about three weeks to a month this year and trained. Then I went home for a little bit, about two weeks, and then I’ve been in Philly for the past few weeks, kind of getting ready, getting back into the city and kind of getting rolling here.”

Similar to Barkey, the 22-year-old Bump is coming off his first full season at the pro level. He joined the Flyers after the March trade deadline and opened eyes. He recorded nine points (five goals, four assists) over 17 regular-season games and added two goals in six playoff games.

Last fall, the winger felt the pressure of his first NHL training camp.

“I kind of know what to expect more now,” Bump said. “More experience. Going into last camp, I didn’t really know what to expect and I just got overwhelmed almost. I think I just know what to expect and the experience definitely helps.”

He wants to make up for last year’s camp.

“This year’s big, I think this is kind of the next step for me, to make the NHL full-time,” he said. “This camp is big and kind go into it with a chip on my shoulder.”

Luchanko and Bonk also have a lot to prove. They had to miss last year’s rookie games because of injuries.

The Flyers will look for Luchanko to have more of a shoot-first mentality. The 20-year-old center has not had an easy path the last two seasons.

In a drill Friday, he scored on a nice rip from the slot. Snowden said Luchanko was “absolutely snapping the puck in the net” and that his shot looked “really, really good.”

“He’s a very responsible player, he has got a very high hockey IQ,” Snowden said. “The one thing that we all talk about is we want to squeeze that offense out of him. Today, seeing him shoot the puck and scoring goals from distance in some different scenarios, that’s a huge plus.

“He can make plays, we know he can make plays, but can we find that scoring touch? Can you be selfish in some situations? Where maybe you defer to pass, maybe now you’ve got an opportunity to shoot the puck in the net or create a secondary chance by shooting the puck.”

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Reds look to pick up the pieces on the road in Milwaukee

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 29: Andrew Abbott #41 of the Cincinnati Reds delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning at Wrigley Field on August 29, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Isaac Wasserman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In the wee hours of Thursday morning, catcher Jose Trevino was once again pitcher Jose Trevino as the Cincinnati Reds wrapped up a 14-1 drubbing at the hands of the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers. The Reds managed just 6 hits in total on the night, their lone run coming off the bat of superstar Elly De La Cruz as he launched a moonshot off Yoshinobu Yamamoto to log a home run in his fifth consecutive game.

The loss sunk the Reds to the third worst run differential in the sport behind only the hilarious Colorado Rockies and homeless Athletics. Not exactly where you want to find yourself when you’re supposedly on the upswing of one of Nick Krall’s infamous rebuilds.

Now, the Reds head into Milwaukee to face the mighty Brewers, off whom they managed to take two of three in Great American Ball Park just last weekend. Safe to say, I expect there to be some revenge on the minds of those beermakers.

Lefty Andrew Abbott looks to turn the tide on his wayward season with the start in Friday’s series opener at American Family Field that I still choose to call Miller Park. Dustin May takes the mound for the Beers, meaning this may well be Cincinnati’s best chance to sock some dingers and actually take home a win in the series.

First pitch is set for 7:40 PM ET. Here’s how the Reds will line up to start:

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Report: Maple Leafs’ Max Domi Will Miss Start of Training Camp, Remains Out Indefinitely GM John Chayka Says

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka told The Canadian Press on Friday that forward Max Domi will not be ready when the team opens training camp, remaining out indefinitely because of complications from off-season surgery.

“Max is going to come and be evaluated. He’s not going to be ready to start training camp. He’s going to be out indefinitely. At the right time in the near future, he wants to address it himself, and I think that’s best for him to do … we’ll leave it at that,” Chayka said, according to Josh Clipperton of The Canadian Press, who shared the quote on his X account.

The update comes four months after the Maple Leafs announced on May 25 that Domi had undergone a procedure to address an undisclosed issue he played through during the 2025-26 season and that complications had left him out indefinitely. The club said at the time he would continue working with team medical staff and be re-evaluated at the start of camp.

That re-evaluation will now take place without Domi participating in on-ice sessions as the Leafs begin their on-ice work. Preseason games are scheduled to start Sept. 19 with split-squad contests against the Montreal Canadiens, followed by games against the Ottawa Senators. The regular season opens Sept. 29 at home against Montreal.

Domi, 31, appeared in 80 games last season and finished with 12 goals and 24 assists. He signed a four-year, $15-million contract with Toronto in July 2024 that carries a $3.75-million cap hit through 2027-28. The Winnipeg native has two seasons remaining on that deal.

Chayka and Domi have a relationship that dates to Domi’s time with the London Knights and later with the Arizona Coyotes, where Chayka served as general manager. Chayka was hired as Leafs GM on May 3, part of a front-office overhaul that also brought Mats Sundin in as senior executive adviser of hockey operations. Jim Hiller was named head coach in mid-June, replacing Craig Berube.

The Leafs have been operating above the salary cap after off-season additions. Placing Domi on long-term injured reserve once the regular season begins would create cap space, a scenario that has been discussed around the team this summer. Chayka had said in early July that Domi was progressing and that camp would provide a clearer picture, adding that he believed Domi would be “a big part of this.” Friday’s comments mark a more definitive step back from that timeline.

Domi has not spoken publicly about the surgery or the complications. Chayka indicated that the player intends to do so himself “at the right time in the near future.” The nature of the procedure and the exact complications have not been detailed by the organization.

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Clarke Schmidt to make another rehab appearance Saturday, could rejoin Yankees after

The Yankees could be getting a nice boost in their bullpen soon. 

Clarke Schmidt will make one more rehab appearance this weekend, manager Aaron Boone said pregame Friday.  

The team will wait and see how that outing goes, but if Schmidt is able to get through it okay, then the skipper said a return during the next road trip could be in play. 

Schmidt has thrown 5.2 innings through four appearances to this point.

He's been slowly building himself up to rejoin the club in a relief role after missing 400-plus days following the second Tommy John surgery of his career. 

The righty hasn't pitched in a big-league game since last July. 

Schmidt could be a nice weapon for the Yanks when he does return, though, as he's pitched to a 3.18 ERA out of the bullpen in his career. 

WEATHERS ON THE MEND

Ryan Weathers could be joining Schmidt in that bullpen down the stretch, as well. 

The left-hander is said to be doing extremely well during his throwing progression, and Boone said that it's possible he'll be able to return during the final week of the season. 

He could make his way back onto the mound as soon as next week, per Boone. 

Weathers has been sidelined for just about three weeks now due to a left forearm flexor strain. 

While there was initially some concern watching him leave his start, the expectation has been that he'll be able to help the Yanks again down the stretch in some capacity. 

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Who is Josue De Paula? Dodgers' top prospect replacing Shohei Ohtani in lineup

What do you do when you lose the back-to-back National League MVP for the home stretch of the regular season? If you're the Los Angeles Dodgers, you simply call up the No. 6-ranked prospect in all of baseball.

With Shohei Ohtani headed to the 15-day injured list, the Dodgers are bringing up their top prospect Josue De Paula for his first shot at the big leagues. The 21-year-old will make his MLB debut on Friday, Sept. 11, against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park.

Though normally an outfielder, De Paula will take the "lion's share" of reps at the designated hitter spot left open by the absence of Ohtani, who has been hampered by multiple nagging injuries since June and will now be out until at least the Dodgers' final series of the regular season.

"Talking to Shohei, the doctors, the training staff, it’s the right thing to do," manager Dave Roberts told reporters after the Dodgers' 14-1 blowout win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. "I think that we tried to kick the can as much as we could, but we are going to bring Josue."

Roberts added that De Paula might get opportunities in either of the corner outfield spots, but those might be few and far between for a couple reasons. Teoscar Hernández has heated up with a 1.329 OPS and 12 RBIs in September and Kyle Tucker will try to get some momentum going into the postseason. De Paula as a prospect is still raw on the fielding side of things as well, but with Ohtani out, it leaves plenty of runway for De Paula to make the most of his biggest strength – his bat.

At 6'3, 185 lbs, the Brooklyn native has evoked comparisons over the last couple years to a "slightly smaller but more athletic version of Yordan Álvarez," according to MLB Pipeline. He's extremely selective with his swings – he swung at just 14% of pitches outside the zone in 2025 – but when he does, he makes hard contact and can drive the ball a very long way.

Why Josue De Paula never played Triple-A baseball

In his first full season at Double-A, De Paula has slashed .303/.401/.547 with 27 home runs and 104 RBIs. He's also stolen 81 bases despite his speed being graded as below average. According to The Athletic's Katie Woo, some evaluators within the organization believe De Paula has the Dodgers' best pure-hit tool since Corey Seager. That kind of production – and ceiling – made the front office brass more comfortable having him jump from Double-A straight to the big leagues and skip Triple-A entirely, the first time a position player has done so in the Andrew Friedman era.

"I think that our player development group is very confident in his ability to conduct an at-bat," Roberts said. "You could argue that the talent in Double-A is similar to Triple-A, as far as pure arms and arm talent. I think that we’ve seen him in camp for two or three years. He doesn’t run from velocity. He controls the strike zone. And I think this is just a good opportunity for him to kind of cut his teeth in the big leagues."

Who is Josue De Paula?

Born and raised in Brooklyn, De Paula moved to the Dominican Republic at the age of 15 when COVID-19 restrictions shut down baseball in New York. He enrolled at El Niche Baseball Academy in Santo Domingo, which has produced big leaguers such as Juan Soto, Elly De La Cruz, Otto Lopez and Angel Martínez, among others, and signed with the Dodgers for $397,500 in 2022.

One of his earliest highlights as a prospect came during the MLB All-Star Futures Game in 2025 in Atlanta, when he was named the game's MVP after crushing a towering three-run bomb off of Noah Schultz, who was then the No. 1 prospect in the Chicago White Sox organization.

De Paula has trained with Soto and De La Cruz, but because he's so confident in the physical side of his game, the biggest takeaways were what he learned from the pair of All-Stars off the field.

"Just a lot of things on the mental side," De Paula said. "I feel like with time, as long as I can dominate my mental, that I'm gonna be in a really good spot for a very long time. I got a few mental tips in just how they go about their work, how they go about their day, their routine, and just how to handle yourself in a full season."

He's done the work. He has the confidence and trust in his game. Now, in the last three weeks of the regular season, De Paula has a chance to show what he can do at the big-league level.

"The advice they gave me (in the Dominican Republic) has served me very well," De Paula said. "Now, it's time to put it into practice."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Josue De Paula? Dodgers' top prospect replacing Shohei Ohtani in lineup

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San Diego wins four straight, sweeping Nats before crucial road trip

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 09: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated by Austin Hays #15 after hitting a two-run home run against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning at Petco Park on September 09, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Diego Padres are back in the postseason! They’ll likely go back and forth as the season continues before they face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final Wild Card spot. The Friars swept the Washington Nationals after Jackson Merrill’s two homer day. He finished a double shy of the cycle, with a single, a triple and two home runs. That production led the Padres to a 9-2 win in the series finale.

San Diego will now embark on a crucial road trip, facing the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies. Both are divisional opponents who are very beatable for the Friars. Not only that, but both teams have been eliminated from the playoffs so they aren’t playing for as much. The Padres should be able to clean up against the two clubs, with the Friars beating San Francisco, 6-4, in the season series.

Taking the mound

Anthony Molina (SF) v. Robbie Ray (SD)

In a short stint with the Giants, Molina has managed to immensely impress. In three appearances (two starts), Molina owns a 1.88 ERA through 14 1/3 innings pitched. Prior to that, Molina had been on the Atlanta Braves, where he pitched just five innings in relief before he was traded for starting pitcher Tyler Mahle.

Molina doesn’t have an abundance of experience at the big-league level. He’s spent two seasons with the Rockies, posting an ERA over 6.00 in both years. Molina worked primarily out of the bullpen but has worked as a starter for San Francisco. It’s worked to mostly solid results, with Molina surrendering three runs in his last three starts.

This will be Ray’s homecoming since being traded by the Giants at the Trade Deadline. The veteran lefty has pitched incredibly well this season but has struggled with the Friars. He’s coming off of a miserable start in which Ray gave up five runs in just 2 1/3 innings versus the New York Yankees.

This is the perfect team for Ray to face in order to turn his Padres tenure around. Not only does Ray know these hitters well, having shared a clubhouse with them, but they have struggled immensely to produce runs this season. That said, San Francisco is on a three-game win streak after sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals.

Batter up!

Apart from Merrill’s hot day at the plate, the San Diego lineup still looked fantastic on Wednesday afternoon. The offense (without Merrill) went a combined 12-for-33. Three of the Padres had three-hit games (Ty France, Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr.) while five had multi-hit games.

  1. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
  2. Jake Cronenworth, 2B
  3. Manny Machado, 3B
  4. Ty France, 1B
  5. Jackson Merrill, CF
  6. Luis Campusano, DH
  7. Dustin Harris, LF
  8. Xander Bogaerts, SS
  9. Freddy Fermin, C

After Cronenworth’s day off on Wednesday, he’ll likely be back in the lineup for the series opener versus San Francisco. He’s spent most of the second half batting behind Tatis. That has worked pretty well for the Padres, but Craig Stammen could tinker a little bit after Merrill’s recent hot streak.

Relief corps

After Walker Buehler was pulled from the game early (perhaps accidentally), the Padres’ bullpen locked it down. With the bases loaded in the third inning, Kyle Hart stymied the Nats. Hart then pitched 1 2/3 more innings before David Morgan, Yuki Matsui, Wandy Peralta and Griffin Canning covered the final 4 1/3 innings.

With the off day on Thursday, San Diego will have all of its relievers available for the series opener. However, those who didn’t pitch in the series finale on Wednesday will be preferred over the rest. Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, Bradgley Rodriguez and Randy Vásquez will be available out of the ‘pen for San Diego. Vásquez seems likely to pitch only if Ray struggles to work deep into the game.

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St. Louis Blues Prospect Adam Jecho To Enter Player Assistance Program

ST. LOUIS -- The NHL and NHLPA announced on Friday that St. Louis Blues prospect Adam Jecho will be unavailable to his club for an indefinite period while he receives care from the Player Assistance Program of the NHLPA and NHL.

Under the terms of the joint program, he will return to the club when cleared for on-ice competition by the program administrators.

Jecho, 20, was a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft who played for Edmonton of the Western Hockey League the past three years and was projected to play in Springfield of the American Hockey League this season after putting up 36 points (10 goals, 26 assists) in 47 games with the Oil Kings last season.

Last season, Blues prospect Zach Dean was in the player assistance program before returning to the Thunderbirds for the final 36 games of the season.

Jecho was slated to be at training camp when it opens on Sept. 17 and was on the roster of prospects to face the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday and Tuesday in Chicago.

Ross Johnston Midwestern-Type Upbringing Brought Him To St. Louis BluesRoss Johnston Midwestern-Type Upbringing Brought Him To St. Louis BluesNew Blues enforcer, who grew up on a family farm in Prince Edward Island, Canada, signed a three-year, $6 million contract that brings toughness, grit to a lineup that has been lacking it
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Ozzie Albies returns to starting lineup against Phillies following big pinch-hit appearance

ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 14: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves takes the field prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Friday, June 14, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The lineups are out for tonight’s series-opening showdown between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies. There’s no major shakeup but there is a return to the lineup for one familiar face after he started Thursday’s contest on the bench.

Ozzie Albies is back in the starting lineup for the Braves. Here’s how the rest of Atlanta’s lineup is looking:

Ozzie has hit .249/.304/.411 so far this season with a wOBA of .311 and a wRC+ of 95. His big triple against the Rays on Thursday helped push Atlanta past Tampa Bay and gave them what could amount to being a very crucial win if all continues to go well for the Braves as far as this particular series is concerned.

Outside of that, there are no major changes from yesterday and in fact, this is the same group of nine batters that squared off against Aaron Nola last week. The bottom of the order is slightly different but the players remain the same. For what it’s worth, Ronald Acuña Jr. has an OPS of 1.076 against Nola in 56 pat-bats. Austin Riley has done a similar level of damage as well with an OPS of 1.111 over 62 ABs. Mike Yastrzemski and Drake Baldwin have both been successful as well (1.046 and 1.056 OPS, respectively) against Nola but they both have much smaller sample sizes (16 and 8 ABs, respectively) to go with. Let’s see if that turns into a factor during tonight’s contest.

Meanwhile, here’s how the Phillies are shaping up:

Alec Bohm is the main one to watch out for tonight, since he was the only Phillies hitter who had any real consistent success against Sale when these two teams squared off last week. Bohm had an RBI double and a solo homer as both of the runs that Philadelphia scored on the night came of of his bat. Of course, it’s hard to overlook the rest of the lineup but hopefully Sale will be able to get the better of Bohm this time around.

So, what do y’all think? Tonight’s game is scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m. ET. There’s some inclement weather in the area so there is a chance that this one could get delayed, so that’s why I’m mentioning the scheduled start time. Either way are y’all ready?

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Boston Celtics Daily Links 9/11/26

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: The sneakers worn by John Butler Jr. #26 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game against the Miami Heat during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 18, 2025 at the Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

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Two-start pitchers: Reid Detmers leads a smattering of strong plays as September winds down

Hello and welcome to the 24th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.

I will continue to be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.

With only a couple of weeks left to go, every decision that you make with your roster takes on extra importance and could be the difference between winning and losing. If you’re chasing, now is the time to take extra risk. Stream those two-start pitchers if you need to make up ground in wins and strikeouts. Avoid unnecessary risk if you’re ahead and need to protect your ratios. This is where championships are won and lost.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week.

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The Braves are currently rolling with a six-man rotation, and with just six games on tap for next week that means that none of their hurlers will get the honor of a two-start week. If anything were to change, AJ Smith-Shawver would be the likely beneficiary (at Cubs, at Astros), and he would make for a decent streaming option. That seems very unlikely though, and it’s certainly not worth using him for a single start at Wrigley Field in the hopes that someone gets bumped and he picks up the extra start on Sunday.

The Brewers continue to utilize a six-man rotation as they want to ensure that all of their starter’s workloads are managed and everyone is ready for the postseason. There have been some rumblings of moving Kyle Harrison to the bullpen given his recent struggles, in which case that could set up Robert Gasser for a two-start week (at Pirates, at Orioles), though nothing has been confirmed on that front. We’ll update here if anything changes throughout the weekend.

With the recent injury to Braxton Ashcraft, the Pirates’ rotation is really in flux at the moment and they have yet to announce a starter for Monday. Whoever does take the ball there, assuming it’s not a bullpen game, would line up for a two-start week (vs. Brewers, vs. Royals). We’ll monitor the situation through the weekend and keep you updated here if anything becomes official.

The Nationals have been tinkering with a six-man rotation as well, and with only six games on tap, that means that none of their hurlers will pitch twice. Jackson Kent is lined up to pitch on Monday and he would be the one to get a two-start assignment (vs. Phillies, at Cardinals) if anything changes. he hasn't pitched well this season though and is not a recommended streaming option either way.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of September 11 and are subject to change.

American League

▶ Strong Plays

Reid Detmers, Angels, LHP (vs. Mariners, vs. Twins)

For years, fantasy managers have been preaching that Detmers would develop into an upper echelon fantasy starter. Finally, in 2026, it has happened. The 27-year-old southpaw boasts an outstanding 3.32 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and a 191/45 K/BB ratio across 168 innings in his 29 starts. He has been especially dominant since the All-Star break, registering a minuscule 1.37 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and a 68/10 K/BB ratio over 59 1/3 innings. Dominant stuff. He needs to be treated like an elite option and started in all leagues every week going forward. With home matchups against the Mariners and Twins this week, he looks like the top overall play on the board.

Hunter Brown, Astros, RHP (vs. Royals, vs. Braves)

Sandwiched around time on the injured list, Brown has pitched well for the Astros once again this season, compiling a 3.52 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and a 100/46 K/BB ratio over 92 innings of work. He’s the type of arm that should be started in all mixed leagues in most weeks regardless of matchups. The fact that he’s starting twice this week just means that you get to sit back and enjoy double the production. He’s one of the top overall plays on the board this week.

Troy Melton, Tigers, RHP (at Blue Jays, at White Sox)

Melton seems to have hit a bit of a wall recently, but has still been spectacular overall on the season with a 2.42 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and an 87/30 K/BB ratio across 108 innings through his first 18 starts. Even with the recent struggles, I have confidence that he’ll deliver quality results over a two-start week and I’d be starting him in all leagues without hesitation.

Tanner Bibee, Guardians, RHP (vs. White Sox, vs. Athletics)

Bibee has been a major victim of bad luck and poor run support this season, as his 5-15 record does not paint an accurate picture of how well he has actually pitched. Through 30 starts, he holds a respectable 4.22 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 133/52 K/BB ratio over 170 2/3 innings. That’s not terrific production, but it’s still worthwhile in most mixed leagues. He now gets to take on the White Sox and a shell of the Athletics’ offense in a week where both starts are going to come at home and he’s likely to be a favorite in both of them. If other managers have abandoned him on waivers, he makes for a terrific streaming option this week.

Michael Wacha, Royals, RHP (at Astros, at Pirates)

Wacha never seems to get the respect that he deserves in fantasy circles. He’s having a terrific season for the Royals, putting together a 3.25 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and a 147/48 K/BB ratio over a league-leading 182 2/3 innings through his first 29 starts. He’s never going to blow up your ratios and his strikeout game has actually been on point lately, with 27 punchouts over 27 innings across his last four starts. He should be started in all leagues for what looks like a particularly strong two-start week.

José Soriano, Blue Jays, RHP (vs. Tigers, at Rangers)

Soriano has pitched decently in his first seven starts since joining the Blue Jays, posting a 4.05 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 27/14 K/BB ratio across 40 innings of work. He gets a dream draw this week getting to battle the Tigers and Rangers, which should lead to all sorts of fantasy goodness. Expect double digit strikeouts and a good shot at a victory to go along with quality ratios. That makes him a strong option in all formats.

▶ Decent Plays

Kade Anderson, Mariners, LHP (at Angels, at Rockies)

Through his first four MLB starts, the 22-year-old southpaw has done a decent job overall, registering a 4.29 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and a 16/8 K/BB ratio over 21 innings of work. The Mariners are being careful with his workload at the moment, which is why he hasn’t thrown more than 85 pitches in any outing yet. The strikeout upside remains high, especially in a two-start week, and if he can avoid serious damage at Coors Field over the weekend he could deliver a very strong week for fantasy purposes. I’m a sucker for the high ceiling and will be rolling him out there whenever possible in all leagues.

Davis Martin, White Sox, RHP (at Guardians, vs. Tigers)

After a strong start to the season, we saw Martin fall on hard times once the calendar flipped to June, posting a 7.06 ERA over a 13-start stretch before landing on the injured list in early August. Since returning from the IL though, he has allowed just one run over 10 2/3 innings while posting a 4/3 K/BB ratio. I’m not going to say he’s magically cleared of his woes and should be a dependable option going forward, but perhaps the injury issue was lingering longer than they were letting on. He gets to battle a pair of familiar divisional foes this week, and neither one is particularly frightening at the moment. I’d stream Martin with confidence in all league sizes.

Griffin Jax, Rays, RHP (vs. Athletics, vs. Red Sox)

For the most part, Jax has been terrific since shifting to the Rays’ rotation mid-season. The only blip on the radar has been a six-run disaster over 2 2/3 innings against the Mets to open the month of September. He rebounded with a strong start in a victory over the Braves in Atlanta his last time out, so I’m choosing to view the Mets’ start as an outlier instead of being the expectation going forward. He gets a strong draw to start his two-start week, batting the A’s at home before finishing up with a home tilt against the Red Sox. He’s an easy start in all leagues.

Drew Anderson, Tigers, RHP (at Blue Jays, at White Sox)

Since shifting to the starting rotation in early August, Anderson has done a really nice job for the Tigers, registering a 2.97 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and a 27/16 K/BB ratio across 33 1/3 innings in his seven starts. The matchups this week aren’t terribly imposing, which sets the right-hander up for continued success. He’s likely languishing on the waiver wire in many mixed leagues and makes for a quality streaming option.

Will Warren, Yankees, RHP (at Twins, at Diamondbacks)

Warren’s 2026 season has been a major rollercoaster ride. Over his first seven starts, he posted a brilliant 2.39 ERA. Then he gave you 14 starts of a brutal 5.60 ERA in the middle of the season. Since then, he’e back to strong results with a 3.12 mark over his last eight outings. He could turn back into a pumpkin at any time, but I’m tempted to ride the hot hand this week with a pair of road matchups against offenses that we aren’t going to be shying away from.

Erick Fedde, White Sox, RHP (at Guardians, vs. Tigers)

The 33-year-old right-hander has quietly done a very nice job over the past few months. Since the end of May, he holds a 3.09 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 60/28 K/BB ratio over 84 1/3 innings. The strikeout numbers aren’t great obviously, but the added volume of the two-start week helps to combat that. He has also been working behind an opener in most outings, which increases his chances of earning a win. The matchups fall in his favor as well, making this a good week to take a chance on Fedde if you’re looking to add volume without blowing up your ratios.

Ryan Johnson, Angels, RHP (vs. Mariners, vs. Twins)

A quick glance at Johnson’s overall line on the season would lead most fantasy managers to conclude that he’s not a viable streaming option, especially in a two-start week. You’d be overlooking what has actually been a good run lately though. Over his last seven starts he holds a terrific 2.11 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 26/19 K/BB ratio over 38 1/3 innings. Sure, the 5.42 FIP during that stretch paints a different picture, but he hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of those starts and has been very consistent. I’d roll the dice and use him for a two-start week at home against the M’s and Twins.

Zebby Matthews, Twins, RHP (vs. Yankees, at Angels)

Matthews had been pitching brilliantly and looked like he had figured something out in the Twins’ rotation this time around. That was until his last two starts, where he gave up nine runs over 7 1/3 innings against the White Sox and Tigers. Yikes. Whether he’s able to bounce back here and deliver quality results is really anyone’s guess at this point. He’s a highly variable option this week, with an extremely high ceiling and a very low floor.Whether or not you want to chance him is dependent on your own level of risk tolerance.

Brandon Young, Orioles, RHP (at Mets, vs. Brewers)

Young has been a stabilizing force in the middle of the Orioles’ rotation this season, posting a solid 3.71 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and a 112/50 K/BB ratio across 140 2/3 innings in his 25 starts. He has made for a decent streaming option in weeks where the matchups line up in his favor, I’m just not entirely sure that this week qualifies as that. Taking on the Mets in New York looks like a solid spot, but having to finish up against the Brewers isn’t an easy task. He also enters the week in bad form, getting clobbered for six runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings against the Guardians his last time out. If you want to trust the track record on the season and believe that he’s going to bounce back on Monday, be my guest. Just understand that there’s more risk here than his overall line indicates.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Dean Kremer, Twins, RHP (vs. Yankees, at Angels)

While he has been a bit better in seven starts since joining the Twins, Kremer still hasn’t delivered the type of results that we’re looking for from a fantasy perspective – posting a 4.79 ERa, 1.23 WHIP and a 31/14 K/BB ratio over 35 2/3 innings. I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt, since he has proven to be a viable mixed league option in the past, he just hasn’t shown me enough this season to do so. He’s nothing more than a fringe streaming option if you’re in need of wins and strikeouts and can handle the potential ratio damage.

Patrick Sandoval, Red Sox, LHP (at Rangers, at Rays)

Sandoval was supposed to make two starts this past week, but got pushed back after Brayan Bello made a spot start for the Red Sox on Monday. Assuming that doesn’t happen again, the veteran left-hander once again lines up for a two-start week. He’s still an unappealing option though as he has really struggled in his return from the injured list. In 11 starts he holds a 4.58 ERA, a cringe-inducing 1.76 WHIP and a 57/27 K/BB ratio across 55 innings of work. The matchup against the Rays looks particularly troubling here, as their patient approach could lead to a disastrous outing for Sandoval. If your only focus is strikeouts and you can risk the ratio damage, fire away. Otherwise, stay away from this one.

Cody Bradford, Rangers, LHP (vs. Red Sox, vs. Blue Jays)

Bradford has had a really difficult time in his return to the Rangers’ rotation following major surgery, going 0-5 with a 4.72 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and a 17/9 K/BB ratio over 34 1/3 innings through his first seven starts. The Rangers just want him to get right and get as many innings under his belt as he can heading into the 2027 season, so they’ll keep trotting him out there every fifth day. It doesn’t look like he’ll be a viable option from a fantasy perspective though. It’s best to avoid this one.

Jack Perkins, Athletics, RHP (at Rays, at Guardians)

The entire 2026 campaign has been a major struggle for Perkins, who boasts a miserable 6.53 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and a 119/47 K/BB ratio over 103 1/3 innings in 34 appearances (14 starts). The only thing that he has been reliable for is strikeouts. It actually is to his benefit that he gets to make both starts away from Sutter Health Park this week, but that’s not enough of a reason to risk trotting him out there, especially when you consider his 5.82 ERA and 1.45 WHIP on the road this season. Unless the only thing that you care about is strikeouts, there are better options to stream this week.

National League

▶ Strong Plays

Tarik Skubal, Dodgers, LHP (at Reds, vs. Giants)

Since joining the Dodgers, Skubal has pretty much looked like the elite version that we have come to expect over the years, posting a 2.93 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and a 48/10 K/BB ratio over 43 innings in his seven starts. He should obviously be started in all fantasy leagues each and every week regardless of the matchup. Taking on the Reds in Cincinnati isn’t ideal, but finishing up the week against the Giants at home more than balances that one out. He’s easily one of the top plays on the board once again this week.

Cristopher Sánchez, Phillies, LHP (at Nationals, at Mets)

The Phillies’ star southpaw is in the midst of an absolutely brilliant season, sporting a 17-5 record, 2.79 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 210/42 K/BB ratio over 187 1/3 innings through his first 30 starts. He has been everything that the Phillies and fantasy managers have hoped for this season. This week, he gets to battle a pair of familiar divisional foes on the road where he should continue to put up elite numbers across the board. Sánchez is a true ace and should never leave fantasy lineups.

▶ Decent Plays

Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks, RHP (vs. Marlins, vs. Yankees)

It was so nice to see Burnes back on an MLB mound last week, completing his arduous journey back from Tommy John surgery. He pitched decently over three scoreless innings against the Royals, but only threw 57 pitches. His workload is going to continue to be limited for the remainder of the season, limiting his ability to work deep enough into the game to earn a victory. That doesn’t mean he can’t have any utility from a fantasy perspective though. In a two-start week here, he’s still capable of delivering eight or nine innings with quality ratios, eight or nine strikeouts and at least an outside shot at a win if he’s efficient. To me, that’s worth a gamble in most leagues.

Jonah Tong, Mets, RHP (vs. Orioles, vs. Phillies)

Even though he gave up four runs over five innings against the Marlins in his return to the Mets last week, we saw the upside that fantasy managers are looking for with seven strikeouts while allowing only five walks+hits. It’s hard to find that type of strikeout upside on the waiver wire and he makes for a viable streaming option in all formats for his two-step this week. The matchup against the Orioles to start the week looks particularly juicy, so if for any reason he has his second start pushed back, you take advantage of the front end and lose the tougher matchup over the weekend.

Quinn Mathews, Cardinals, LHP (vs. Giants, vs. Nationals)

The 25-year-old rookie left-hander has been solid through his first six MLB starts, compiling a 4.11 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and a 28/14 K/BB ratio over his first 30 2/3 innings. Once he’s able to improve his command and limit the walks, the sky is the limit here. He gets an especially nice draw this week, getting to tangle with the bottom feeding Giants and Nationals with both starts coming at home. He should be able to approach double digits in strikeouts with a good shot at snagging a victory. The only real concern is the WHIP. There’s enough meat on the bone here that I would be starting him in all leagues.

Walker Buehler, Padres, RHP (at Rockies, vs. Marlins)

The overall line for Buehler on the season looks much more mediocre than something that would be useful from a fantasy perspective. Since the All-Star break though, he has quietly put together a very nice run over 10 starts – posting a 3.26 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 40/18 K/BB ratio over 49 2/3 innings. It’s a tough draw taking on the Rockies at Coors Field, but he gets to finish the week with a home tilt against the Marlins and hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any start since before the break. I’d be inclined to trust him as a streaming option in all league sizes.

Landen Roupp, Giants, RHP (at Cardinals, at Dodgers)

Roupp has been a solid and steady producer both for the Giants and for fantasy managers this season, posting a 4.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 139/72 K/BB ratio over 150 2/3 innings. The elevated walk rate leaves him open to blow up starts on occasion, and having to battle the Dodgers in Los Angeles over the weekend could wind up being one of those starts. He should be good for around eight strikeouts on the week though with a chance at a win if you feel like taking the chance.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Sandy Alcantara, Marlins, RHP (at Diamondbacks, at Padres)

Alcantara has done a very nice job overall this season for the Marlins and for fantasy managers, posting a 3.78 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 143/55 K/BB ratio over a major-league leading 200 innings in his 31 starts. There’s reason to believe that the heavy workload in his second season back from Tommy John surgery is taking it’s toll though. Over his last three starts (against the Nationals, Royals and Mets), he has struggled to an 8.27 ERA and a 6/6 K/BB ratio over 16 1/3 innings. That’s extremely concerning, especially when the competition is factored in. Honestly, I’d be scared to roll him out there for a two start week in his current form and would look for alternative options.

Casey Mize, Padres, RHP (at Rockies, vs. Marlins)

Mize has really struggled since joining the Padres at the trade deadline, posting a cringe-inducing 6.34 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 22/10 K/BB ratio over 32 2/3 innings in his first seven starts. He has dealt with a variety of injury issues this season and doesn’t appear to be 100 percent at the moment. Trusting him in a two-start week that begins at Coors Field feels like you’re asking for trouble. Go ahead and gamble if you wish, but I would try to find an alternative option if possible.

David Peterson, Cubs, LHP (vs. Braves, at Reds)

While the version of Peterson that we have seen since joining the Cubs is slightly better than the one we saw with the Mets, he still hasn’t been a viable mixed league option – posting a 4.41 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and a 54/29 K/BB ratio across 63 1/3 innings in his first 13 appearances. It’s not going to get any easier for him this week, having to battle the Braves at Wrigley Field before tangling with a red-hot Reds’ offense in Cincinnati. Maybe you can squint and see him getting seven or eight strikeouts on the week, but it’s likely to come with very poor ratios and his chances of securing a victory aren’t strong either. I’d only look here if you’re really desperate.

Nick Lodolo, Reds, LHP (vs. Dodgers, vs. Cubs)

After a breakout 2025 season, Lodolo has taken a major step back and been one of the biggest disappointments of the 2026 campaign. Through 18 starts he sits at 3-4 with a 5.12 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and a 75/38 K/BB ratio over 89 2/3 innings. It’s not going to get any better for him this week as he draws an especially brutal pair of matchups, having to take on the Dodgers and Cubs both in the hitter-friendly confines in Cincinnati. The only utility that he has right now is in the strikeout department, and the ratio risk that you’re taking on to get them is extremely high. There are probably better options out there.

Ryan Feltner, Rockies, RHP (vs. Padres, vs. Mariners)

I actually like Ryan Feltner and feel like he could be a viable streaming option in some instances away from Coors Field. In a two-start week where both matchups come at home though, there’s really no reason to go here. He holds a 6.18 ERA and 1.44 WHIP while serving up 11 home runs in 59 2/3 innings at home this season. Just don’t do it.

Rhett Lowder, Reds, RHP (vs. Dodgers, vs. Cubs)

Lowder has been extremely inconsistent throughout the season for the Reds and enters this week in especially bad form – having given up 13 runs over 7 1/3 innings over his last two starts against the Dodgers and Brewers. He now gets to take on those same Dodgers at home before having to battle the Cubs over the weekend. What little help that he’s able to provide in strikeouts won’t offset the ratio damage and his chances of ending up the win column look slim as well. Unless strikeouts are your only concern, look elsewhere.

Tomoyuki Sugano, Reds, RHP (vs. Padres, vs. Mariners)

Never Rockies. Especially for two starts at Coors Field. Why put yourself through that? It’s not even like Sugano is any good – he boasts a 5.30 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 84/33 K/BB ratio over 137 2/3 innings on the season. If your only goal is to gain ground in wins and strikeouts and you can absorb the ratio damage that he’s going to inflict, sure, roll the dice. Otherwise there’s just no justification for trotting him out there for two starts.

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Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Texas Rangers preview

ARLINGTON, TX - MARCH 28: A detail photo of the Commissioner's trophy prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

It is obligatory to include a reference to the 2023 World Series in every preview between these two teams, so let’s get that out of the way first. As we remember well, Texas prevailed in five games. But since then? Neither team has returned to the playoffs. It was the first World Series since 2006 where neither side reached the playoffs the following year – and, of course, it was considerably harder to make the post-season in 2007. Arizona narrowly missed out on tiebreakers, but Texas finished with a losing record in 2024, slumping to a 78-84 mark. The following year saw the Rangers with the better record, ending exactly even at 81-81.

This year, they’re there or thereabout again. Texas are currently 72-75. Normally, such a mediocre record would be well out of the post-season picture, but this is the American League in 2026. So the Rangers are still in the hunt for a spot, despite being below .500: they are two back of the Guardians for the last AL spot. Even winning the AL West is not out of the question. Texas are currently three games behind Houston there, and all told have a playoff percentage of 20.3%, per Fangraphs. While not as good as the Diamondbacks, I’ve no doubt the Rangers will still feel there’s a chance, and I’d expect them to play like it this weekend.

The season so far

No doubt about the star for Texas (hohoho) so far on the position player side. Ezequiel Durán’s remarkable flexibility – he has started at every position bar pitcher and catcher – combined with a 124 OPS+ has powered him to 4.6 bWAR. It’s kinda out of nowhere, considering his total over the previous four seasons and 362 games was only 1.7 bWAR. Interestingly, former Diamondback Alex Cintron, now a hitting coach for Texas, may have helped sustain Durán’s breakout campaign, with an adjustment in the player’s stance. Wyatt Langford and Corey Seager have also been having solid seasons, while Jake Burger easily leads the team in HR, RBI and strikeouts.

The Rangers lead the American League in OPS+ at 108, but that has largely been undone by the pitching side. They rank 13th among the 15 clubs there, with an ERA+ of 91. Weirdly though, only the Tigers and the Red Sox have more shutouts than the Rangers, who have blanked the opposition 13 times. One starter we won’t see is Jacob DeGrom, but nice to see him stay mostly healthy. He could post consecutive 30-start seasons for the first time since 2019, though had to leave his last start with groin tightness. We probably don’t want to be trailing going into the ninth, because Texas closer Jacob Latz has been their best pitcher by bWAR. He has a 1.85 ERA to go with 28 saves, and a FIP of 2.65 suggests he has been deservedly good.

Pitching match-ups

At time of writing, early Friday morning. MLB.com lists all six probable pitchers for this series as a thoroughly unhelpful, “TBA”. So what follows is a best guess, going off previous pitchers in each team’s rotation plus other sources online, and is subject to change. So don’t come whining to me…

Friday 11th: LHP MacKenzie Gore (8-10, 4.51) vs. RHP Merrill Kelly (9-13, 5.06)

We’ll be hoping for better this time, against the man whose name sounds like the villain in an eighties slasher film. For Arizona faced Gore on the road in May, and he tossed eight innings of one-run ball, allowing only three hits. It was his best start of the year by Game Score. But his ERA is more than two runs higher on the road: 5.63 vs. 3.36. Kelly has been showing some improvement; last outing was a quality start, and his first appearance without a walk since May 20. He’d walked 3+ each of his previous six. Merrill is 4-9 when issuing more than two BBs in a start, compared to a 5-4 record when he walks zero or one batters.

Saturday 12th: RHP Kumar Rocker (5-11, 4.61) vs. RHP Brandon Pfaadt (7-2, 3.53)

The #3 pick in the 2022 draft hasn’t lived up to expectations yet. Over his first 41 starts, he has an ERA+ of just 79. His last appearance came following an opener on September 4, and it did not go well, allowing nine hits over five innings. Though his first such “bullpen” outing, earlier this season, led to 7.2 shutout innings at Coors Field. Looks like a regular start here though. After a stellar month and a half, Pfaadt has come back to earth. He’s not missing as many bats, with only eight strikeouts over his last three starts, covering 19 innings. But he has thrown at least six innings each time, keeping Arizona in the games: all three ended up being decided by one run.

Sunday 13th: RHP Cal Quantrill (8-5, 2.89) vs. LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (15-5, 2.55)

If this does turn out to be the match-up, it’s likely the best of the series. With three – possibly four – starts remaining, ERod has 5.3 bWAR, and could end up surpassing his career high of 5.5 bWAR, back in 2019. Indeed, his total bWAR over five years and 114 starts from 2021-25 was only 5.6 bWAR. It has been a spectacular resurrection. Meanwhile, Quantrill started the year in the bullpen, but has been a revelation since returning to the Texas rotation in late June. He has a 1.70 ERA over his last six outings, with a K:BB ratio of 34:6 across 37 innings. While his FIP is somewhat higher, at 2.80, it’s hardly extravagant. This promises to be a tough one.

Prediction

When we faced the Rangers at Arlington in mid-May, we squeaked out the opener 1-0, but then lost the next two by margins of 4-7 and 5-6. With the D-backs now in a tough fight for a wild-card spot, they’ll certainly be looking to do better. Given the lack of certainty about the pitching match-ups, it’s hard to say how things might break. Saturday’s game is the only one where I feel there’s a definite edge, favoring Arizona. The others could go either way – and I’d not be surprised if that’s exactly what they do, the D-backs taking one and dropping the other. Just don’t ask me which! So, all told: the Diamondbacks win two out of three. Enough? We’ll have to ask the Giants about that…