CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 02: Mitch Keller #23 and Endy Rodríguez #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates meet in the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 02, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are going to be without one of their top starting pitchers for the rest of the season. The team announced that Mitch Keller has a teres major muscle injury in his right shoulder and that he will be out.
Keller won’t be eligible to be activated back on the active roster till October 2 and the regular season ends on September 27.
Keller won’t be allowed to throw for six to eight weeks, preventing a possible return. The teres major is one of the major muscles controlling the shoulder joint, extending from the shoulder blade to the top of the arm.
The injury could have something to do with the offseason that Keller is having. He has 5.29 ERA in 22 starts and a 6-8 record.
The 30-year-old’s last outing was one his worst starts of his career, only lasting two innings and allowing seven earned runs in the 10-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. The start was frustrating for Keller because it also came after he put together two starts where he allowed two earned runs over 10 1/3 innings to seemingly start to get his season back on track.
Even though Keller has been inconsistent this season, it is still a big loss for a Pirates starting rotation that has been pretty healthy. Jared Jones started the season on the 60-day IL but has been playing well since coming back.
The Pirates recalled Brandon Eisert from Triple-A Indianapolis to join the roster as a replacement for Keller. The Bucs went all in on relief pitchers during the trade deadline and didn’t go after a starting pitcher.
We could see Carmen Mlodzinski be put back into the rotation after leaving to go to the bullpen in late May. The right-hander is 6-3 with a 3.15 ERA in 25 appearances/nine starts this season.
NBA history spans 80 seasons, and as CelticsBlog readers well know, the Boston Celtics have won a league-high 18 championships. This month, we are recapping each of those title years.
The regular season
When the 1958-59 season began, Bill Russell was in an unfamiliar position: he was not a reigning champion.
From his junior year in college through his rookie year with Boston, Russell’s teams won two NCAA titles, an Olympics gold medal, and the NBA championship. In his second season as a pro, the Celtics again made the NBA Finals but lost a rematch with the St. Louis Hawks – largely because Russell badly sprained his ankle in Game 3, missed Games 4 and 5, and gave it a try in Game 6 but was too injured to continue.
The Hawks took their four wins by the point margins of two, three, two and one. In the closeout game, St. Louis superstar forward Bob Pettit took full advantage of Russell’s predicament, scoring 50 points on 19 of 34 from the field and 12 of 15 free throws, while also grabbing 19 rebounds. All for the Hawks to win by one point.
<p>Head coach Red Auerbach had assembled a roster with Hall of Famers Bob Cousy (14) and Bill Sharman (21) as the starting backcourt. (Photo by NBAP/ NBAE/ Getty Images)</p> | NBAE via Getty Images
So, when the next regular season began, it was clear the Celtics were on a mission. Little did they know, they were taking the first step toward making history and beginning a stretch where they would not be beaten for a long, long time.
In December, they ripped off 11 straight wins, and in January they tacked on an eight-game streak. They were the highest-scoring team in the league, including smashing league records with a 173-139 onslaught of the Minneapolis Lakers. Tommy Heinsohn scored 43 points, and Bob Cousy set a new league record with 28 assists.
The Celtics finished with 52 wins and 20 losses, the NBA’s best one-season record to date. Red Auerbach had built a loaded roster, as represented by the backcourt: starters Cousy and Bill Sharman, backed up by Sam Jones and rookie K.C. Jones. All four are now in the Hall of Fame. Boston even had a two-sport star you may not have heard of (see sidebar below).
Eastern playoffs
Even with all that talent, the Celtics needed seven games to beat the Syracuse Nationals (now the Philadelphia 76ers), who had their own go-to guys in Dolph Schayes, one of the top players in the fledgling years of the league, and George Yardley, All-NBA and one season removed from being the league’s scoring leader.
Through six games, the series was tied as each team won all its home games. In Game 7 in Boston, Schayes and Yardley combined for 67 points, but the Celtics prevailed with seven men in double figures. Sixth man Frank Ramsey was Boston’s high scorer with 28. In addition, the Celtics outrebounded the Nats, 89-62 (Russell grabbed 32), leading to 20 more field goal attempts in a game Boston won, 130-125.
The Boston Celtics celebrate after they beat the Minneapolis Lakers, 118-113, to win the NBA title in 1959. Pictured are (left to right), back row: Bill Russell, Sam Jones, Jim Loscutoff, Gene Conley, Bennie Swain, K.C. Jones; Middle row: trainer Buddy Leroux, Coach Red Auerbach, Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn; Bottom row: Frank Ramsey and Bill Sharman.
NBA Finals
The Celtics expected a rematch with St. Louis, which led the Western Division at 49-23, but the Hawks were stunned in six games by the Minneapolis Lakers. Thus, the first-ever installment of the Celtics vs. Lakers rivalry was set.
The Lakers were led by sensational rookie Elgin Baylor, a 6-foot-5 forward who was a gifted scorer. Baylor was a deft finisher around the rim, and his herky-jerky dribble moves consistently got him to the basket or to the free throw line. He won Rookie of the Year, was first-team All-NBA, placed third in MVP voting, and averaged 28.3 points per game during Minneapolis’ upset of St. Louis.
However, Baylor couldn’t carry the Lakers to victory against the more talented, motivated Celtics. Boston’s defense, backstopped by Russell, held the rookie to 33.3% shooting from the field and the Celtics swept the Lakers, 4-0.
It was over when…
The series truly might have been over before it began. As author George Sullivan noted in his book, “The Picture History of the Boston Celtics,” Minneapolis came into the series having lost to Boston 22 consecutive times over the previous two years.
Despite that, the Lakers gave it their best shot in Game 1. Baylor dropped 34 points, but the Celtics prevailed at home, 118-115. Minneapolis had no answer for Ramsey, who notched 28 points.
Turning point
If the Lakers still had a chance, it vanished in Games 2 and 3, when Baylor was held to 13 and 14 points, respectively. The Celtics won both by double digits to take a 3-0 series lead.
The heroes we needed
In Game 4, Heinsohn, Ramsey and Sharman combined for 76 points on 33 of 67 shooting for a 118-113 closeout.
Notable facts and stats
The Celtics and Lakers franchises have gone on to meet for the championship 12 times. Boston leads the rivalry, 9-3.
It wouldn’t be true in all those meetings, but in this series, it was the Celtics who had an advantage at the free throw line. Boston made 111 of 158, while Minneapolis made 86 of 117.
This championship began Boston’s eight-peat — eight consecutive titles from 1959 through 1966. No other NBA franchise has won more than three straight.
Gene Conley: The two-sport star who made history with Boston
You’ve probably heard of Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders, who were major stars in both professional baseball and football. You may also know that Celtics legend Danny Ainge played three seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays before going to basketball full time.
But do you know the name Gene Conley? He was a two-sport star who arguably topped them all.
Conley was a 6-8 forward selected by the Celtics in the 1952 NBA Draft. As a rookie, he came off the bench for 12 minutes per game, averaging 2.3 points and 4.4 rebounds. However, also in 1952, Conley won 11 games as a pitcher in the Boston Braves minor league system and made his Major League Baseball debut by pitching in four games for the Braves.
That modest start led to bigger things. For the next five seasons, Conley stepped away from the Celtics to pitch full-time for the Braves, who had relocated to Milwaukee. The highlight of that stretch was winning the 1957 World Series in seven games over the New York Yankees. His most notable teammate was Hank Aaron, who went on to hit 755 home runs, breaking Babe Ruth’s career record. Conley pitched 11 seasons in the majors (including three with the Boston Red Sox), finishing with a 91-95 won-lost record and four all-star game appearances.
Conley returned to play for the Celtics in 1958 and was a member of the 1959 championship team led by Bill Russell. Conley also won titles with the Celtics in 1960 and 1961, all while simultaneously continuing his pitching career, since at that time the baseball and basketball seasons did not overlap. His NBA career totals were 5.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game over six seasons.
To sum up, Conley won four pro sports championships and remains the only athlete to win titles in both MLB and the NBA. He beat the Yankees in the World Series and the Lakers in the Finals. Moreover, he was a teammate of arguably the greatest home-run hitter of all time and the basketball star who won more championships (11) than any other individual in the four major U.S. sports. That resume has never been matched by any other two-sport athlete, and it never will be.
Banner Years continues tomorrow with a review of the 1959-60 season and the road to winning Banner #3.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders: Offday, though not in terms of impact. George Lombard Jr. was promoted to the Yankees, with Anthony Volpe, Jasson Domínguez, and Angel Chivilli heading down to Triple-A. Jake Bird (dealt to Washington) and Kervin Castro (promoted) will also need replacements in the bullpen. Max Schuemann is one, as he was a big-league roster casualty with Luis García Jr. in tow.
Double-A Somerset Patriots: Offday; they’ll need to replace trade chips Ben Grable and Jack Cebert, who both went to the Nationals in the García trade.
High-A Hudson Valley Renegades: Offday; they’ll need to replace trade chips Henry Lalane and Kaeden Kent, who both went to the Giants in the Heliot Ramos trade.
Low-A Tampa Tarpons: Offday
Florida Complex League Yankees: Season over
Dominican Summer League Yankees:W, 12-0 vs. DSL Rockies
CF Isaias Castillo 1-4, K, SB PH-LF Emmanuel Orozco 0-0, BB SS Stiven Marinez 0-4, BB, SB 2B Juan Torres 3-3, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB, SB, fielding error — 18-year-old has crushed rookie ball with a 1.059 OPS this year LF-CF Luis Cruz 2-4, 2 RBI, BB C Juan Martinez 1-5, 2 RBI 1B Cesar Lopez 1-4, HR, RBI, BB, 2 K DH Poly Ojeda 2-5, RBI, K RF Stalen Ramirez 1-4, 3B, 2 RBI, K 3B Adrian Feliz 0-3, 2 K
Hector Moreno 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 8 K Fredy Penuelas 4.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K (win) Cesar Vivanco 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K — an impressive 16 K’s for the Yanks staff
Dominican Summer League Bombers:L, 14-3 at DSL Colorado
CF Ruben Castillo 1-4, HR, RBI 2B Dariel Santana 1-4, 2 K C Alessandro Rodriguez 2-3 PH-C Jesus Guerrero 0-1, K 3B Carlos Bello 0-3, BB, K, GIDP, fielding error RF David Carrera 1-3, K RF Eliezer Adames 0-1, K DH Kenneth Melendez 0-4, 2 K SS Germayhoni Beltre 1-4, 2B, SB, fielding error LF Sebastian Pint 0-3, K 1B Alfred Ciriaco 2-3, HR, RBI
Sebastian Castillo 3 IP, 6 H, 6 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K (loss) Randy Angomas 3.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 2 HBP — Randy had a good go of it his last time out, but this is now the seventh time in ten appearances he’s allowed five-plus runs Breidy Adames 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 29: Peyton Watson #8 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles the ball during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on November 29, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Nuggets defeated the Suns 130-112. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cavaliers fans and fans across the country.
It’s time for another poll. Today we want to know whether Fear the Sword readers prefer Jonathan Kuminga or Peyton Watson as trade targets for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Please make an account and go to our feed posts to vote.
Both Kuminga and Watson have been linked to the Cavs this summer. Cleveland is reportedly showing interest in the two 23-year-old wings as they would fill a glaring hole on the roster.
The Cavs are searching for a way to recoup some of their wing depth after losing Dean Wade to the Philadelphia 76ers this summer. They also lost Keon Ellis to the Brooklyn Nets. This leaves Cleveland with few options to play the wing.
Mario Hezonja is a worthy but unproven fit at small forward.
Hence, the need for a trade.
The assets required to get either Kuminga or Watson are similar. The Cavs would need to sign-and-trade in both scenarios, likely meaning Max Strus or Dennis Schroder are involved. The Denver Nuggets reportedly want at least one first-round pick attached for Watson — raising the price compared to Atlanta.
Watson is a more complete player who translates to winning basketball. Cleveland could plug-and-play Watson as a 3-and-D forward with little to no issues.
Kuminga isn’t as straightforward. He comes with more raw potential, but isn’t as polished or consistent as Watson. Though his upside as an on-ball creator feels higher at this stage of his career. It’s unclear if Kuminga can ever reach that potential, however.
It might be splitting hairs to determine which player is a better fit in Cleveland. That’s why we wanted to hear your opinion. Vote in our poll and leave a comment explaining your decision. We’ll react to the results later this week in a follow-up story.
It's starting to feel like revenge season in Boston, where a club that went 10-17 with the fired Alex Cora is now a seemingly unbeatable 50-34 with interim-but-probably-permanent manager Chad Tracy.
Lost in the hubbub of Tarik Skubal's arrival in L.A. was the Red Sox schooling the Dodgers over three games, running their unstoppable streak to 23 wins in 26 games, moving within five games of first place.
They now have a virtual lock on the No. 2 wild card and also Adley Rutschman in the fold, ready to upgrade their putrid production at catcher while Cedanne Rafaela continues his MVP run. All that's left is home cooking: The Red Sox are 25-29 at Fenway Park and welcome the Central-leading White Sox and free-falling Athletics to the Fens this week.
It wouldn't be surprising if they had a winning home record by week's end.
Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Michael Conforto, Tyrone Taylor...is this Queens Midwest?
7. Boston Red Sox (+3)
Imagine telling a Red Sox fan two years ago that Kyle Teel and Marcelo Mayer were gone, Roman Anthony slipping out of favor and Kristian Campbell buried in the minors.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 03: Luis García Jr. #26 of the New York Yankees looks on before the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Yankee Stadium on August 3, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The dust has settled on the MLB Trade Deadline. After weeks of anticipation, the Yankees came away with a thinner haul than most probably expected, picking up a pair of hitters in Luis Garcia Jr. and Heliot Ramos but not doing much else, content to maintain the status quo with their pitching staff, and with their catching situation. The latter decision stuck out like a sore thumb, as their direct division rivals, the Red Sox and Rays, made major backstop additions yesterday, Boston landing Adley Rutschman in a blockbuster, and the Rays picking up Liam Hicks from the Marlins.
It’s not the deadline most fans were hoping for, and though the Yankees are better today than they were a few days ago (heck, even a few hours ago, as they swapped out Anthony Volpe for top prospects George Lombard Jr. and demoted Jasson Domínguez to make room for Ramos), it remains to be seen if they’ve done enough to either win the division or the American League. So, now that the stage has been set, let’s ask: where do the Yankees rank among AL contenders? Can you make a case that the Yankees are favorites to win the American League?
I can already hear a loud chorus of fans ready to answer an incredulous “No!”. The case against seems fairly obvious: the Yankees have been unable to hit their way out of a paper bag the last eight weeks, their offensive production at catcher has been a nightmare, and multiple players on the infield dirt have not played to expectations. The Yankees have struggled of late, still are waiting to get some key players back from the injured list, and are behind in the standings 3.5 games back of the first-place Rays.
But I think there’s an equally plausible case for the Bombers. No, they didn’t add pitching at the deadline, content to go with what they have. In this case, though, playing to the status quo is in the Yankees’ favor (last night’s Cam Schlittler dud and Angel Chivilli meltdown notwithstanding). They entered the deadline with the best ERA in baseball by distance this season, and that’s with arguably four of their five most talented starting pitchers all missing significant chunks of the season due to injury. The conventional wisdom heading into the deadline was that the Yankees were pitching the lights out, but needed to add bats, and that’s what happened.
And after doing that, their roster projects as well as any in the (American) League. In fact, by FanGraphs projections, the roster is tops in the AL the rest of the way, and not only that, FanGraphs’ playoff odds have the Yankees with the best pennant odds in the Junior Circuit. That is thanks in no small part to the wide-open nature of the AL. FanGraphs gives the three AL division leaders a combined chance of winning the league of roughly one-in-three, compared to roughly three-in-four odds for the NL division leaders.
There are a couple hinge points in those projections that forecast the Yankees as tops in the AL. One, of course, is the status of Aaron Judge, who is projected to produce a .986 OPS in 78 plate appearances. Is that OPS figure, and that plate appearance amount, optimistic? Pessimistic? It’s possible Judge returns in September and hits at a high level (Brian Cashman has indicated that’s what the team expects), but it feels just as plausible that Judge doesn’t play again this year. Also highly influential is one’s estimation of the Yankees’ catching situation; FanGraphs rather charitably pegs the team’s catcher’s room as tenth best rest-of-season, partially because Austin Wells and Co. have always rated well defensively, and because Wells in particular has underperformed his offensive peripherals in 2026.
It can be hard to feel optimistic through long periods of iffy play and avalanches of injuries, but the Yankee roster at anything resembling full health should be favored against any AL team. What do you think? Is that an overly optimistic view? Or do you believe the projections that still see this as the top squad in the AL?
On the site today, we’ll have loads more reaction to the Trade Deadline, with analysis of both of the Yankees’ major moves. We’ll also have a recap of a light Monday of action from Andrew, and a profile of Roger Clemens, who turns 64 today. Later, Michael analyzes the week that was down on the farm, while Josh and John our AL West and Central monthly rundowns.
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 01: Brandon Lowe #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Saturday, August 1, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Colten Strauss/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are on a bad streak of games since coming back from the All-Star break, and could be slipping out of the playoff race.
FanDuel Sportsbook has released their current odds for teams to make the postseason, and currently project Pittsburgh being on the outside looking in come October. The Pirates have the 17th best odds to make the playoffs with +520 odds. Unfortunately for Pirates’ fans the team is more likely to miss the playoffs with -870 odds to miss the postseason.
After the Pirates recent collapse against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds there are definitely some questions that need to be answered if the team is going to make a serious push towards October. The team now sits at 57-57 on the season, while placing third in the National League Central. They’re 4-6 in their last ten and are now 3.5 games back from the last Wild Card spot in the NL. Since returning from the All-Star break the team is 7-10 and have been allowing their opponents to score a lot of runs against them in recent contests.
Welcome to the Pirates bullpen Camilo Doval. 10 spot. Blowout city. This is bad. Really bad. pic.twitter.com/ATM6NlZtuF
Although it looks like the team is looking to buy and add to this squad, the odds are stacked against them as August gets underway. They have not been able to beat the teams that on paper they should like the cellar dwelling Reds, and they haven’t looked very competitive against the better teams in the league like the Cubs or the Dbacks.
The stacked NL Central isn’t going to make their path to the playoffs any easier either as it’s been difficult all season to find any breathing room within the division. The Pirates embark on a four game series against the Milwaukee Brewers next, a team that is currently tied for the best record in baseball with the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The second place Chicago Cubs also seem to be surging while the Pirates are sliding, going 6-4 in their last ten, and of course have a recent series victory over Pittsburgh. The Cubs currently have a four game advantage in the Wild Card race, holding firmly onto the first place spot.
The Pirates are certainly not out of the race yet, but this is the wrong time of the season to be looking as flat as they are right now. The lineup has lacked run production, the pitching staff has been erratic in both the rotation and the bullpen, and management has made some bone-headed decisions as of late. This squad needs to regroup if they hope to prove the odds makers wrong and secure a spot in the postseason.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 28: George Lombard Jr. of the New York Yankees poses for a photo during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 28, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NY Post | Greg Joyce: The Yankees’ top prospect, George Lombard Jr., has rapidly climbed his way up prospect rankings as he’s jumped through each level of the minors. This year he’s really turned on the burners, crushing Double-A before getting a midseason promotion to Triple-A and whittling down his adjustment time to a mere month or so before finding his groove. An injury slowed down his ETA and raised some doubts about whether he could contribute to the 2026 team’s playoff push, but doubt no more: Lombard is getting the call to The Show. The 21-year-old shortstop is expected to officially debut tomorrow after the team demoted Anthony Volpe (alongside Jasson Domínguez and Angel Chivilli). The team held off on trading their blue chip infielder, and for a change they’re going to immediately plug him into the big league lineup alongside new additions Luis García Jr. and Heliot Ramos to revamp what has been a lifeless offense.
AP | Larry Fleisher: Speaking of the deadline, the Yankees ended up not doing nearly as much as they were expected to on the final day. They came to an agreement with the Giants to land Ramos, but couldn’t get traction on anything else as they failed to land an upgrade at catcher or in the bullpen. Brian Cashman said that he tried for several flashier moves though, checking in with the Tigers on Tarik Skubal and Baltimore with Adley Rutschman. The former didn’t go far as the Tigers apparently were set on the deal they got from the Dodgers while the Yankees were the ones unwilling to continue negotiating with Baltimore as the price was set too high for them.
NY Daily News | Peter Sblendorio: While all of the trades were being completed, one other significant topic on reporters’ minds was the status of Aaron Judge and his injured ribs. Cashman gave an update of sorts when addressing the media following the deadline, saying that there was a “pretty high likelihood” that Judge will return this season. The team couldn’t rule out the possibility of Judge sitting on the shelf for the rest of 2026 but expressed optimism that he was still on pace to return, adding that they’ll have a clearer picture once Judge goes through re-imaging on his ribs. Not exactly reassuring, but also not surprising considering how vague his timeline has been since getting placed on the IL in the first place.
Central Jersey | Mike Ashmore: Mickey Mantle’s legacy with the Yankees needs no introduction, and even after 30 years since his passing his family remains a beloved part of the organization. Mantle’s two living sons, David and Danny, were in Somerset on Saturday to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and got to meet with a crowd of folks wearing their father’s retired No. 7 on their backs.
Kevin Durant was a key part of, arguably, the greatest team in NBA history.
However, he believes the 2026-27 Philadelphia 76ers might just be better, on paper, than the historic 2017 Warriors team that dominated the league on their way to their first of two consecutive NBA Finals victories over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Durant, replying to Instagram user tevstakes in the comment section of his post criticizing Durant’s recent comparison of James joining Philadelphia to him joining Golden State in 2016, stated, in response to a comment about the talent on the 2017 Warriors vs. the 2026-27 76ers, that this year’s Philadelphia squad, with James, is more talented on paper than his iconic Golden State team.
“Joel [Embiid], MVP recently,” Durant wrote. “Jaylen [Brown], recent finals MVP, Tyrese Maxey, all-star the last 3 years. We all know what bron does. Klay Thompson, never a MVP candidate in nothing, 22ppg. Draymond [Green], 14ppg 7 rebounds 6 assist, Steph [Curry] a MVP just like Joel was. I don’t get how the Warriors team is better on paper”
Thompson, who caught a slight stray in Durant’s comment, seemingly took exception to it, and perhaps jokingly, called out his former teammate in an Instagram story post on Tuesday morning.
The frequently online Green, unsurprisingly, also got in on the fun, responding to Durant’s take on Threads, joking that his former teammate might have forgotten to comment that from his alleged burner account, instead of his main account.
Thompson and Green’s comments likely are in good fun, since there doesn’t seem to be any current beef, at least publicly, between the former teammates. But who knows.
While Durant’s take could be considered a bit premature, given Philadelphia’s squad has yet to play a game together, it certainly is not outlandish. The résumés of James, Brown, Embiid and Maxey speak for themselves, and compared to what Durant, Curry, Thompson and Green did in their careers leading up to the 2017 season, but in the prime of their careers, there at least is an argument to be made.
However, it’s not a surprise that many Warriors fans, and even current and former players, disagree with Durant’s take.
Player has spoken for first time since he quit Test cricket
Former captain expresses surprise Brook not given post
Ben Stokes has trained his sights on becoming England head coach in the future and expressed concerns about Joe Root’s impending second stint as Test captain.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 8: New York Knicks logo on the court before the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 8, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York, 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 Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The New York Knicks will enter their championship defense without one of the executives who helped build their title-winning roster we all came to enjoy and love.
Knicks senior vice president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas is leaving the organization after four seasons in New York.
Rosas announced his departure through an Instagram post celebrating New York’s first NBA championship in 53 years and describing his work with the franchise as complete.
“Celebrating an NBA Championship and the successful completion of our New York chapter with FAMILIA,” Rosas wrote. “Fulfilling the vision of bringing a championship back to New York after 53 years is a legacy I’ll always be proud to have helped build.”
Rosas also reflected on helping create a roster that connected with New York and the Knicks fanbase.
“Being part of assembling a team that represented the city, connected with its fans, and brought people together was one of the most meaningful and cherished parts of this journey,” Rosas wrote.
The 48-year-old thanked the organization while acknowledging the difficulties involved in completing the Knicks’ long-term, title-winning plan.
“All love to my Knicks family,” Rosas wrote. “The peaks and valleys, the sacrifices, and our relentless commitment to making this plan a reality made the achievement even sweeter. Grateful for every moment of this legendary milestone.”
The Knicks initially hired Rosas as a senior basketball consultant in February 2022. He was promoted to senior vice president in September 2023 and worked alongside team president Leon Rose and senior adviser William Wesley.
Given his role as Senior VP and being the closest thing to a general manager — the Knicks don’t have a GM proper — in New York alongside Rose, Rosas had a major impact in the Knicks’ draft process (both choosing players and dealing them, as well as draft picks) for much of his tenure in Manhattan. No, the Knicks have not drafted a superstar nor a hidden gem buried late in a second round, but they convinced Pacome Dadiet to sign for less money than usual to then facilitate the KAT trade, traded for Tyler Kolek, Ariel Hukporti, and Kevin McCullar, Mo Diawara on draft night, and lastly picked Tyler Nickel and Jack Kayil after a flurry of moves in this year’s draft.
While Rose deserves his flowers and then some, Rosas was also a key figure in some of the most impactful transactions the Knicks pulled off (and did not) during the last few seasons.
All the way back in 2022, in a whiff some folks saw as yet another failure by the Knicks, Rosas couldn’t complete a trade for then-Jazz franchise player Donovan Mitchell. A few years later, and thanks at least partially to not landing DoMi and retaining some of the assets that would have gone the other way, Rosas was the man behind the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. Marc Stein reported Rosas was the leading executive pushing the rest of the Knicks brass to attempt a trade for the then-Wolves star.
“Mission accomplished. On to the next chapter. Knicks in 5. Kings of New York. It Is Written,” Rosas finished.
In this week’s Injury Report, James Wood exits Monday’s contest with an apparent oblique issue. The Rays add reinforcements after Shane McClanahan landed on the injured list with a back injury. And Kyle Harrison is set to return this week following a successful rehab appearance. All that and more as we cover the latest relevant injury news around the league.
⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
James Wood (side)
Wood was replaced in the field in the eighth inning of Monday’s contest against the Phillies with an oblique issue following a swing in the sixth inning. Nationals manager Blake Butera said after the game that Wood would undergo an MRI on his left side. The fear here is an oblique injury that could lead to a multi-week absence. Fantasy managers will want to keep an eye out for an update on Tuesday. The 23-year-old outfielder has been one of the most productive hitters in the game, slashing .265/.393/.535 with 30 homers, 100 runs scored, 73 RBI, and 17 steals across 535 plate appearances.
McClanahan was removed three innings into his start against the Rangers last Thursday with lower back tightness. The Rays placed him on the 15-day injured list with mid-back tightness the following day. President of baseball operations Erik Neander called the injury “pretty minor” with hopes that he’ll miss just a couple of starts. It makes sense for the Rays to take a cautious approach as they sit at the top of the AL East standings, especially after acquiring Freddy Peralta from the Mets. McClanahan has pitched well in his first season back since 2023, posting a 3.09 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts over 99 innings.
Matt Chapman (abdomen)
Casey Schmitt (knee)
Chapman appeared to be getting close to a return from an abdomen injury that’s kept him sidelined since early July. He apparently still has trouble running and underwent an MRI on Monday after meeting with team doctors. We should know more in the coming days. Meanwhile, Schmitt’s season is likely over after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The 27-year-old infielder had enjoyed a breakout campaign before the injury, slashing .271/.301/.483 with 21 homers over 409 plate appearances.
Kyle Harrison (forearm)
Harrison made a rehab start with High-A Wisconsin on Thursday and tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings on 68 pitches. He allowed one hit, walked three, and struck out five. The 24-year-old left-hander came out of it feeling good, passing his final hurdle before he’s activated from the injured list. Out since July 11 with left forearm tightness, he’ll end his absence this week with a return against the Pirates on Wednesday or Thursday. With Harrison returning and Dustin May joining the team in a trade with the Cardinals, Milwaukee could deploy a six-man rotation to keep starters fresh for a playoff run.
Brendan Donovan (groin)
Donovan has wrapped up a minor league rehab assignment and is set to be activated from the injured list on Tuesday for Seattle’s series opener against the Tigers. The 29-year-old infielder has been sidelined since mid-May with a groin injury. He’s been limited to just 25 games, hitting .274/.386/.452 with three homers over 101 plate appearances.
Dalton Rushing (arm)
Rushing was scratched from Sunday’s lineup against the Red Sox with an arm injury that the team deemed minor at the time. But Rushing was also out of Monday’s lineup against the Cubs while the Dodgers added catching depth with Ben Rortvedt at the trade deadline. Shortly after, Rushing was placed on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. Meanwhile, Will Smith is still likely a couple of weeks away from returning after resuming baseball activities just last week. Smith has been sidelined since early June with a neck injury.
Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow)
Fantasy managers can probably give up any hope of Schwellenbach making an impact this season. The 26-year-old right-hander said on Friday that he remains optimistic that he’ll make his season debut in September. He has a couple of bullpen sessions left before he advances to facing hitters. At that rate, he’d likely be cleared for a rehab assignment in mid-to-late August and would likely require at least a few starts before joining the Braves. Schwellenbach hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 28, 2025, dealing with elbow issues.
Blake Snell (elbow)
Tyler Glasnow (back)
Snell made his third rehab start last Wednesday with Low-A Ontario, striking out nine over four scoreless innings. He’s set to make one final rehab start on Tuesday, aiming to throw 75 pitches in a final tune-up before joining the Dodgers rotation. The 33-year-old left-hander made one start this season for Los Angeles before undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow in May. He’ll join a Dodgers rotation that just added Tarik Skubal as the team loads up for another deep playoff run. And Glasnow isn’t too far behind Snell. He’s set to make his first rehab start with Low-A Ontario on Tuesday after completing a pair of live batting practice sessions. The 32-year-old right-hander has been sidelined since May 6 with back issues. He’ll likely need a few outings before a potential return later in August.
Nick Lodolo (blister)
Lodolo landed on the injured list before the All-Star break as his blister issues on his left index finger resurfaced. After throwing a bullpen session last week, he’s ready to start a minor league rehab assignment. The 28-year-old left-hander is aiming to throw 60 to 65 pitches in a start with Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday. Even when available, Lodolo hasn’t been nearly as effective this season, posting a 4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts over 62 2/3 innings.
Jul 21, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Some quick grades for the Jays deadline day deals.
Kevin Gausman to the Cubs for Ty Southisene and Brett Bateman
Gausman’s having the poorest season of his five with the Jays, but still has a 102 ERA+, so he’s still a useful pitcher. And he could step it up in a pennant race. The Jays didn’t send any money along with Kevin.
Southisene was listed as the Cubs #10 prospect by Baseball America. He’s 21, and has played most of this season in High-A ball. hitting .326/.451/.372. I do like guys who get on half the time. But he has no power and I think pitchers will throw him more strikes as he moves up the ladder. He can play short or second. Could end up a utility players. Has some speed.
Bateman is #21 on MLB Pipeline’s list of Cub prospects. He’s a lefty bat, hitting .312/.430/.421 with 20 steals in Triple-A. Could be a lefty hitting Myles Straw-type. I’d imagine we’ll see him in Toronto before the end of the season.
Quick Grade: C. Not an overwhelming return for Gausman, but I don’t know that you could have hoped for much more.
Arjun Nimmala, Eddie Macheletti, and Angel Rivero to Angels for José Soriano
In the middle of all this selling, the Jays became buyers.
Soriano won’t be a free agent until 2029. He’s been a good pitcher for the Angels, with a 3.29 ERA and a 2.7 bWAR this year in 22 starts. Career, he has a 7.0 bWAR in 113 games 73 starts. He, Cease and Yesavage could be a very good threesome at the top of our rotation.
Nimmala is a very good prospect. I hate losing him, but you have to give up something to get a starter like Soriano.
Quick Grade: B. Depends on what Nimmala becomes.
Adam Macko to Rangers for Josh Smith and Josh Stephan
Macko has been on the highway from Toronto to Buffalo a lot. He’s been perfectly ok. Macko is out of options after this year.
Smith has had five years in the MLB. He’s played every position other than catcher and pitcher. In 2024 he had a 3.5 bWAR and in 2025 a 2.9 bWAR. This year hasn’t been as good, -0.6. He’s hitting .213/.299/.272. And he’s, more or less, major league average defensively where ever he’s played. We do seem to like utility infielders. If he can be the player he was the last couple of years, he would be useful. If not, he can’t be optioned.
Stephan is a 24-year-old RHP. He has a 5.44 ERA in Triple-A this year. He gets ground balls. He could have Macko’s job of bouncing between Buffalo and Toronto if all goes well.
Quick Grade: C. Macko’s value was that he had options, that changes next year. Smith either remembers how to hit or spends a lot of time in Buffalo.
Daulton Varsho to Astros for Spencer Arrighetti
Varsho was having a terrible season for the Jays. The team is sending some money to Houston as well. He’s a free agent at the end of the season.
Spencer Arrighetti is 27, a right-handed pitcher, who can’t be a free agent until 2030 and he still has an option year left. He was a sixth round pick in the 2021 draft. He’s in his third season in the majors. This year he has a 4.60 ERA in 17 starts. In 88 innings, he’s got 87 strikeouts, but 50 walks. Batters are hitting .215/.344/.360 against him. If Pete Walker can work a little magic and bring his walk rate down, he could be a decent back of the rotation starter. As we’ve seen this year, you can never have too much pitching.
Quick Grade: A. Turning two months of Varsho into a starting pitcher with three-years of control left is pretty good. If Walker can help him find the strike zone more, it would be a great trade.
Jeff Hoffman to the Twins for Dasan Hill, John Klein and Dameury Pena
Hoffman was not a fan favourite, had a very rough time as our closer, but was excellent since moving into the setup roles. It’s entirely possible that he will be great for the Twins. He is signed through next season.
The Twins pick up their second Jays reliever in a month, after getting Tommy Nance. They give up:
Hill, who Baseball America had as their #8 Twins prospect is a left-handed pitcher. He was their Competitive Balance pick in 2024 (the 69th overall pick). He walks too many, but struck out 35% of batters this year. If he can’t cut down the walk rate, well he could be a back of the pen reliever. If he does cut back, he could be a very good starting pitcher.
Klein is 24, a RHP. He’s has pitched 4.1 innings in the majors this year. In Triple-A, he has a 5.91 ERA this year, with 74 strikeouts in 64 innings (also 34 walks and 14 home runs). He looks like a middle reliever type. Hopefully, Pete can work a bit of magic with him.
Pena turns 21 September first. He’s playing mostly second base in A ball but sounds unlikely to stay in the middle infield. He’s hitting .300/.373/.362. Lots of walk, not many strikeouts, but not enough power to make it as an outfielder. Some speed, but seems a long shot to have a major league career.
Quick Grade: A. Honestly, getting Hill for Hoffman would be an A for me, if Klein can be a semi useful reliever that’s gravy.
Overall Quick Grade: B.
Of course, if Soriano pitches great and the Jays make run at a Wild Card spot, I’ll edit this to a A.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 03: Tim Tawa #13 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with Ketel Marte #4 after hitting a three run home run against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning at Chase Field on August 03, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Record: 60-53. Pace: 86-76. Change on 2025: +6.
The resurrection of Brandon Pfaadt continues. The team won his seventh consecutive start since he came back from Reno. The pitcher should have a 7-0 record, if not for the Thompson/Sewald meltdown in Pittsburgh. He’ll have to settle for being 6-0 with a 1.55 ERA (40.2 IP and 7 ER), after going 6.2 innings tonight, allowing only an unearned run. To be fair, he did get some help from his defense, with a number of quite excellent plays. But that ERA is the best by a Diamondbacks starter across any seven-game span, since Zac Gallen’s figure of 1.16 (46.2 IP and 6 ER) in April-May 2023. I may just have made myself a little bit sad with that memory.
Tonight was definitely a contrast in opposites, with Pfaadt being remarkably efficient, in contrast to the Padres’ Michael King. It took Brandon only 31 pitches to record nine outs. 31 pitches into his outing, King was still working with two outs in the first. Arizona didn’t manage to score, but it was still a promising start against a man who had given them trouble in the past. Over five previous starts against the D-backs, covering 25.2 innings, King had a 1.05 ERA. But tonight spawned chances from the off. A pair of two-out walks were stranded in the first. Tim Tawa stood on third with one out in the next frame, then fell victim to the dreaded contact play. A Max Kepler double-play ended the third.
I do want to talk about a pair of quite terrible Diamondbacks challenges tonight (above). One came with one out in the top of the first inning by James McCann, on a pitch which was nowhere near the zone – 1.7” from the edge, according to the graphic. That left the D-backs down to just one challenge, two batters into the game. As a result, they – specifically, Ketel Marte – had to suffer some egregiously terrible calls by home-plate umpire Ramon De Jesus. Though the three most obviously blown ones didn’t impact the outcomes of the at-bat: Marte walked twice, and Nolan Arenado singled. However, Marte then decided to waste Arizona’s second challenge on an equally blatant strike.
Had this all led to a loss, I’d probably be more than the “slightly irritated” all of the above made me reach. In the fourth inning, the D-backs finally broke through against King. One of those Ketel walks led things off, and one out later, Adrian Del Castillo singled. Then, Tim Tawa blasted his fifth home-run of the year down the left-field line and into the home bullpen (below). It was one of Tawa’s three hits on the day, and his OPS is now higher than that of Max Kepler. Also on form tonight was James McCann, a late replacement in the line-up after Gabriel Moreno had to go off and give birth (or something – I was in the kitchen…). He had an RBI double plus a single, and is now batting .319 for the year.
Pfaadt continued to cruise through six innings, with a two-out double in the fifth the only time a Padres got past first base. But he was beginning to look a little rosy-cheeked, and Pfaadt connoisseurs will be aware, that often indicates he’s running out of gas. So it proved in the seventh. He allowed his first walk with one down, and a single followed one out later. A ball hit into the shortstop hole proved too difficult for Nolan Arenado, his throw sailing wide of Tawa, and putting the Padres on the board. Torey Lovullo had seen enough, and Pfaadt was lifted. His final line: 6.2 innings, with just five hits and a walk, and three strikeouts.
Juan Morillo took over, and disposed of Xander Bogaerts on three pitches, the last a 100 mph fastball. Morillo then worked around a leadoff single in the eighth. Arizona added a pair of insurance runs to make the score 5-1, one on McCann’s double mentioned above, and the other on a well-worked sacrifice fly off the bat of Jorge Barrosa. He was clearly hyped at getting the job done, and why not? But it wasn’t all good news. Corbin Carroll went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in the leadoff spot, and some really bad choices. Over his last 30 games, a spell now covering 137 PA, he is hitting just .148. It’s the worst 30-game streak of his career.
Still, a four-run lead proved far more than adequate. New chairman of the closer committee, Brandyn Garcia, set down the Padres in order in the ninth, on 12 pitches – non-save situations apparently not proving an issue there. The win was an important one, over a wild-card rival and on a night where all the other active contenders won. It kept Arizona in a tie for the second wild-card spot with the Phillies, two games up on the Padres, who are now tied with the Marlins. The Diamondbacks are also “only” nine games back of the Dodgers in the NL West. Their lead in the division hadn’t been that small since June 27.
I also want to call out the Arizona defense. Ryan Waldschmidt had a lovely running catch in deep right center, and Max Kepler might have robbed a home-run at the wall in left. There was also an excellent double-play turned, and despite his error, Arenado also made a play worthy of a man with ten Gold Gloves. All told, a solid game for Arizona on all sides of the ball, and a welcome win after the understandable disappointment of the team’s limited moves at the trade deadline.
Click here for details, at Fangraphs.com Trade winds: Tim Tawa, +32% Trading partners: Pfaadt, +23%; Morillo, +15%
Trade deadline: Corbin Carroll, -7%
Comment of the thread to ercil, for an observation regarding Barrosa’s sacrifice fly:
Tomorrow night, it’ll be the same two teams in this best of four series, with the D-backs now having a very good chance of at least securing a split. Eduardo Rodriguez starts for Arizona, with another 6:40 pm first pitch.
When it happened again on Monday night, he seemed decidedly less amused.
In his first trip back to Wrigley Field since leaving the Cubs for the Dodgers in free agency this winter, Tucker received a reception that belied that ballpark’s “Friendly Confines” nickname.
He was voraciously booed before his first at-bat. Then again and again with each subsequent trip to the plate.
“I don’t know,” he said when asked of the hostilities afterward. “I tried my hardest last year. I tried playing through a hand fracture and calf thing, just trying to get back for the playoffs for them, trying to do what I could to help out the team.”
Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) tags out Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) during the sixth inning on Monday, August 3, 2026, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Imagn Images
Evidently, that didn’t sway a nearly 40,000-person crowd on the North Side to welcome him with a warm greeting.
Tucker’s lone season with the Cubs didn’t go according to plan, of course. After an All-Star first half, the slugger slumped down the stretch while battling his hand and calf injuries.
Though the team still made the playoffs, and prevailed in a three-game series against the Padres in the wild-card round, their NLDS elimination to the rival Brewers ultimately qualified as a disappointment.
Tucker’s 4-for-16, one-RBI performance in that series also left a disappointing impression –– at least, it seemed, among the fan base –– before he entered free agency and signed his $240 million deal with the Dodgers this past January.
“I mean, I liked playing here last year,” Tucker said. “There were some really great guys over there and they have a good team.”
“Didn’t end up great at the end of the year,” he added of his up-and-down campaign. “But I had a good run.”
Monday’s scene was not exactly new for Tucker.
A fan boos Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Monday, August 3, 2026. (2026 Getty Images) Getty Images
During a May trip back to Houston to face the Astros –– the team with which he spent his first seven MLB seasons before being traded to the Cubs last year –– the outfielder was also booed in a way he hadn’t been during his only prior visit in 2025 (having “Dodgers” across his chest seemed to have something to do with that).
That night, however, he said “I don’t really focus on crowd noise and stuff” and “don’t really have a take.”
On Monday, his answer struck a different tone, even while he insisted it was “nice being back and playing here.”
On the field, Tucker went 2-for-3 with a walk in the defeat, snapping the latest slump in his disappointing debut season with the Dodgers after going 3-for-19 in his previous seven games.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
“I just try to move on to the next day if I have a bad game,” he said, despite continuing to sport career-lows in batting average (.240) and OPS (.710). “If I have a good game, I try and just keep it going. So, I mean, felt like I had good at-bats tonight. And I’ll just try to continue that to tomorrow’s game.”
Yet, Monday’s performance also came with a baserunning mistake, with Tucker getting thrown out at second base –– one at-bat before Teoscar Hernández hit a home run, no less –– while trying to stretch for a double on a line drive off the wall in right field.
“They made a good play,” Tucker said, explaining he was trying to take a chance with the Dodgers facing a three-run deficit in the sixth.
Manager Dave Roberts, however, was more critical.
“It just doesn’t look good when you’re down three,” he said.
On a night full of booing, it was the one time Tucker prompted Wrigley Field to cheer.
Eric Samulski
